520 Chestnut Street
Guest writer David Griffith continues his Muddy Boots blog series this week with “520 Chestnut Street.”
I have lived and worked in the Philadelphia region on and off for the last 45 years. For many of those years, I walked past Independence Hall on my way to work. On occasion, I would go in, usually at an off-hour, and look, be quiet, and think of the history that has taken place within these walls.
Now more than ever, I marvel at the wisdom of these founders and the men and women who have continued the work that started at 520 Chestnut Street. It is said that “democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.” The wisdom of the three branches of government and the associated checks and balances. Flawed, most certainly, but a remarkable resilience in the face of challenges from within and without.
As we are near our 250th anniversary as a nation, we feel we have some decisions to make. Our history is that of a nation of immigrants and immigration. Legal immigration has fueled our growth, and the diversity brought has been a source of strength. Our history on race and gender equality has much pain and continues to be a source of friction, disagreement, and injustice.
How we move forward will set the stage for the next 250 years. It is critical we look forward and not backward; we look for the opportunity for growth, not the decay of the status quo. To find the common ground and include all Americans. There is a reason people want to move to America. Opportunity.
Imagine if thirty percent of people who live in poverty found the opportunity of a living wage job. Why would we not want the growth that would follow? A country and government with a strong private economy in the right balance focused on growth and all that implies drives opportunity. Imagine thirty percent more consumers.
However, that vision requires a strong, independent economy, a focused government operating under the rule of law and the checks and balances of the original founding vision, and a practical and strong public policy that drives the conditions for growth, innovation, security, and opportunity.
The time has come for the next 250 years. I would suggest we look back to move forward. We have our differences, but we also have the opportunity to gain experience from the differences and, in doing so, find the common ground we all crave. And that would be authentic leadership.
The us, them, needs to become the we.
As in “We the people.”