The American Democracy Optimists

One Big Thing

 

A New York Times op-ed on courageous leadership has been making the rounds through our inboxes and LinkedIn feeds recently. Darren Walker, outgoing Ford Foundation President, observes that there is a leadership crisis in our nation across all sectors due to the fear of an intolerant and coarsening culture.

He offers a crucial lesson: "Effective leadership requires managing nuance and complexity, seeing all sides of an issue from the perspective of every stakeholder, and then setting a course, and communicating with clarity, consistent with common values." This brand of leadership is essential in our society as we navigate the many pressing issues of our time.

It's also the brand of leadership that the Presidential Leadership Scholars put into action. Kelley Jiou, Director of Leadership and Programming at the Bush Institute, recently shared how participants in PLS exemplify visionary, values-based leadership every day. She spotlights four Scholars who are bravely working to create positive change by bringing people together across the political spectrum.

 

Bush Institute Insights

• ​President George W. Bush extended his congratulations to President
  Donald Trump on his election as the 47th President of the United States. In his statement, President Bush expressed gratitude to "election officials, poll workers, and volunteers who oversaw a free, fair, safe, and secure election." He highlighted the robust voter turnout, stating it underscored "the health of our republic and the strength of our democratic institutions."

• In a Washington Post opinion piece, Bush Institute Research Fellow
  Joseph Kim recounts escaping North Korea as a 15-year-old orphan and arriving in the U.S. under the North Korean Human Rights Act. Joseph's story is an important reminder of the American democratic spirit that has provided freedom and opportunity to so many.

• Mary Tobin, Director of Brickyard Chapters and Programs at the nonprofit More Perfect Union, works to strengthen communities through social connection, service, and civic engagement. She joined The Strategerist podcast to discuss More Perfect Union’s mission, her military experience, and the critical role of human connection in building resilience.

• Randell Trammell – 2023 Presidential Leadership Scholar, Georgia
  Commissioner on Civic Education, and CEO of the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement – discussed his leadership project Civic Sunrise. The initiative enhances youth civic knowledge and engagement through teacher training and interactive student programs.

• Bill McKenzie, Senior Editorial Advisor at the Bush Institute, recently wrote in The Dallas Morning News about different strategies that can reduce partisan animosity, drawing on insights from Stanford's Strengthening Democracy Challenge. The study highlighted the importance of bipartisan cooperation and shared national identity in easing polarization.

• Something fun (especially for parents!):
• Have you ever watched the hit children’s TV show “Paw Patrol” and thought, "Why has this mayor allowed a ten-year-old and his
  puppies to run the public safety administration?" Our own Chris Walsh certainly has, and he thinks it's a valuable lesson in the importance of democratic institutions and ensuring our voices are heard.

• This blog from the Center for Presidential Transition at the Partnership for Public Service outlines the critical steps involved in the post-election presidential transition process, emphasizing its importance for the stability of American democracy. As the blog notes, "the peaceful transfer of power between administrations is one of the most visible demonstrations of democracy in action, and ensuring it happens smoothly is vital for the well-being of the nation."

• AEI's Ruy Teixeira and Yuval Levin released a report on the failure of the current political parties to build a durable, national coalition. We believe that the key to such a coalition is practicing pluralism – having a tolerance for and working with individuals or groups who have different views or beliefs, even within our own tribes. America's diverse population requires a multifaceted approach from both parties.

• The Medill School of Journalism released its annual local news report, which revealed that over a third of U.S. newspapers have closed since 2005. A trend to replace local journalism with AI is especially worrying: last month, a news website that uses AI mistakenly accused a California district attorney of committing murder, rather than charging a suspect with murder.

 

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To learn more about the Bush Institute's work on Strengthening Our Democracy, email Anne Wicks, the Don Evans Family Managing Director of Opportunity and Democracy, or Chris Walsh, Director of Global Policy.