Why Can’t We Get Along?

I will attempt to answer that question with a simple answer… Civic Virtue.

What is Civic Virtue… It’s a term the Greeks created to explain how Greek society should act publicly and privately to explain how one should become “civic” minded with respect to being a member of the community and the government. Meaning every citizen should participate in government for a short period of time and afterwards go back to their own community and private lives and bring that civic nature to his family, friends and his community.

Our founding fathers were not only civic minded but were educated men who read about Greek and Roman governance. They applied civic virtues to our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. These were very important and smart men who saw the future. The Founding Fathers did not view the concept of “virtue” merely as personal piety or religious morality. To the Founding Fathers, the survival of the American experiment hinged on a specific concept known as Civic Virtue.

“Public Virtue cannot exist in a nation without civic virtue, and public virtue is the  foundation of our republics.” — John Adams

 Defining Civic Virtue:

• The Classical Model: The Founders were students of Greek and Roman history. They admired the Roman Republic, where the ideal citizen (like Cincinnatus) served the state when needed and returned to the farm when finished, seeking no permanent power.

• The Danger of Luxury: They believed that when a society becomes too focused on “luxury” (materialism) and personal ambition, public virtue corrodes, leading to tyranny. In America in 2025 we have reached “The Danger of Luxury.”

Civics is the study of the rights and duties of citizens, focusing on the structure and functions of government and how individuals can participate in civic life. It involves learning about constitutional principles, civil law, and the history of citizenship to foster active, responsible, and knowledgeable members of a society. Civics is essential for a functioning democracy and was taught in schools as part of social studies curricula. Today the majority of 39-42 states  do not require a mandated semester-long course, with only 6 to 9 states requiring a full-year course.

Over the past 35 years Civic Virtue has diminished to almost nothing. From Reagan to Trump we have seen the American government care more for its Corporations than its people. Our founding fathers of Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, Hamilton and Jay would not like to see King Trump’s America. Nor would the honorable Abraham Lincoln who was a proponent of Civic Virtue and guided America through a bloody civil war to make the Union whole.

So it’s no wonder America’s leaders lack Civil Virtue if not taught. “An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.” Thomas Jefferson stated 1779.

Upon the closing of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787, Franklin was asked, “What have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” His succinct response underscored the idea that the success and survival of the new American government were not guaranteed and would require constant vigilance and participation from its citizens. His response “A REPUBLIC, IF YOU CAN KEEP IT”

My opinion of Civic Virtue goes as follows: The Civic Virtue and Public Virtue of Mike Johnson on a scale of 1 to 100 is about a 10. Why do you ask for such a low score? He has let the congress, with Trump’s guidance, the third leg of our Republic’s checks and balances fall to Trump solely. To make things worse Trump our 47 President has ZERO Public Virtue and works only to enrich himself and his billionaire friends on the backs of the American people. There is no Civic Virtue in this behavior to “We The People”.

When the Government was shut down, Trump commanded his DOJ to fight the judge’s ruling to continue funding the SNAP program that feeds millions of poor babies, kids and adults. What does this say about Trump, Mike Johnson and the Republicans in Congress? No Civic Virtue, no Compassion and absolutely no Christian Charity!

Unlike Lincoln, Trumps looks to divide a nation for his own electoral support by pushing a great divide: Red VS Blue states.  President Abraham Lincoln stated during his acceptance speech for the US Senate on June 16^th 1858, ” A country divided cannot stand”. Today we have fewer freedoms than in 1990. We have a country run by Radical Republicans supported by Corporations and Billionaires.  There are almost no Civic Virtue billionaires like Andrew Carnegie in America today. That fact causes our Great Republic to be uneven with regard to wealth and opportunities for most Americans.