At the George W. Bush Institute, we seek to emphasize the goodness of the American experiment. While it can be messy at times, democracy remains the best system for fostering a free, just, and prosperous society.
We joined fellow presidential foundations last fall to make this case through an unprecedented statement reaffirming our commitment to America’s democratic principles. And as many of you know, we’ve spent the past several months identifying how to best promote these beliefs, and we are now focused on three big ideas.
- Showcasing pluralism in action – Our Pluralism Challenge series and events model the healthy disagreement and civil discourse that is the bedrock to democracy. A commitment to pluralism – or broad social tolerance for people of various backgrounds and beliefs – gives our cherished liberties their potency and allows 330 million very different Americans to coexist peacefully.
- Developing the leaders our country needs – Effective democracy requires principled leadership to navigate our complex challenges. Our Presidential Leadership Scholars and the Stand-To Veterans Leadership Program help address this need.
- Highlighting and offering policy solutions to strengthen our democracy – We are focused on issues like confronting mis- and disinformation, supporting local media, and promoting civic education.
This newsletter will highlight all these things – from sharing the stories of Americans boldly practicing pluralism to spotlighting exciting ideas for improving the quality of our democracy.
We hope to make clear that patriotism requires us to expect disagreement with each other while we respect the democratic values that bind us. Doing both is how our shared American ideals become real.
This is the greatness of America. Thanks for reading.
