Community Values

Our politics, society and public discussions are highly polarized. We constantly look for differences to separate us, rather than looking for common ground and values upon which we can build and work together.

Many politicians and media pundits tell us that it's good versus evil, black and white, right and wrong, patriots and traitors.

But it's possible to develop another view. We can embrace Community Values, because our actions have consequences beyond ourselves; our fates are linked.

Embracing Community Values means believing that we prosper both as individuals and as a people when our politics and policies reflect that we're all in it together. We all know instinctively that we're stronger together. And history shows that when we work together to solve our problems, placing the well-being of the community as a top priority, we all move forward. Conversely, when we leave people behind, we all suffer.

We've always embraced the idea of different people uniting to accomplish a common goal and to move our society forward together. That story is embodied in our national motto of E Pluribus Unum — "From Many, One." We've embraced it in our efforts to meet common challenges like World War II, the Great Depression, childhood diseases, the denial of civil rights, even the race to the moon.

We can rise together to meet the current challenges: Climate change, the uninsured, immigration, education, sustainable energy and energy conservation.

Or we can bicker and fight and go to our separate corners, solve nothing and suffer the consequences.

It's our choice.