Secular Values 01

 

Secular Values 01

Stand For Something

A leadership vacuum

By 

Elliot Kirschner Apr 12

Too many of our elected officials are too steeped in focus groups and political calculus—they measure their actions based on fear of reaction, and are trapped by the battlelines of the past, unable to reimagine the decisions we’ll need to shape a better future.

I sense a public eager for clarity and conviction—for leaders who are bold but responsive, unafraid to take risks, and uncompromising in their pursuit of what they believe is right.

I suspect that many of the stances that now feel like prudent caution will be seen by future voters as acts of political cowardice—maybe even as soon as the next election cycle. This will extend to those in leadership at places like universities, law firms, and industry.

I’m reminded of lessons from the past: how voting to go along with the war in Iraq because it seemed overwhelmingly popular ultimately helped cost Hillary Clinton the Democratic nomination in 2008. Or how a failure to take the financial industry to task for the Great Recession helped fuel a wave of disillusionment that hollowed out trust in government and left space for dangerous populisms to rise.

I worry that in trying to piece together a majority, too many Democratic officials see only a patchwork of voting blocs, each needing a different message. But the whole point of a big tent is that it isn’t a collection of little tents. It’s an audacious structure—broad and open enough to shelter difference, held up by the tentpoles of shared purpose, strong enough to withstand the winds of division that hope to tear it down.

We should not fear policy differences. Debate and compromise have been essential for the stability that has allowed America to thrive. But this approach to governance only works if it builds on a foundation of core democratic values. 

We don’t have to agree on everything to agree that:

A functioning democracy depends on truth—even when it’s inconvenient,
Corruption erodes both our moral credibility and our economic resilience,
And strength isn’t measured in bluster but responsible restraint.

Public health decisions should be grounded in evidence, not ideology,
Peaceful protest isn’t a threat to law and order,
And the separation of powers protects judgment from impulse.

No one should be seized off the streets without explanation or recourse,
Scientific progress should be a public priority—not a political target,
And scapegoating “others” doesn’t solve our problems—it multiplies them.

Voting should be easy, accessible, and protected from manipulation,
Workers deserve a fair share of the prosperity they help create,
And children should feel safe in their schools and communities.

Climate change demands action rooted in science and justice,
We have a responsibility to the wider world,
And journalism, free from intimidation, is essential to accountability.

When we stand for these ideals—when we stand for something—we find the strength to stand for and with each other. There’s power in knowing we’re part of something bigger than ourselves. Purpose-driven action draws others in. It’s how mass movements have changed the course of history—more often than not, for the better.

This is both our challenge and our opportunity. But the past teaches us that we cannot wait to seize the moment. We must act with uncompromising urgency. And we need to find and empower the leaders who will rise to join us.