“A purely negative approach to government will get us nowhere: only a governmental policy actively working for the small and the personal can turn this country away from the large and the anonymous; only a national commitment to the human scale can restore a sense of community.”
Our Quote of the Week gets us thinking about the qualities that are most important in our government leaders. With the 2020 Democratic primaries kicking off and the Presidential election nine months away, we’re excited to hear from (and support) leaders who bring a positive outlook, the skills to bring people together, and the ability to solve problems for all Americans.
Sargent Shriver spoke these words in his 1975 Announcement for President of the United States. He ran in the 1976 Democratic primary, a race which was ultimately won by Jimmy Carter. Although Sarge did not go on to be the Democratic Presidential candidate, there are many insights to be learned from his campaign, which officially began with this speech. In his remarks, Sargent Shriver spoke about the “crisis of confidence” that Americans were dealing with at the time. They were still recovering from the Watergate scandal, the subsequent resignation of President Richard Nixon, and a severe recession, while high unemployment and growing income inequality were putting a strain on many communities around the country. With all of this intense pressure, Sargent Shriver presented a way forward that was positive and forward-thinking, and his announcement for the presidency reflects that.
At the moment, many of us are dealing with our own crisis of confidence towards government. But opportunities for positive change are coming. It’s up to all of us to support, vote for, and BE leaders who can bring positive change and restore a sense of community.
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