If Seattleites want better government, leading by example is the first step

1876. That was the year that voter turnout peaked with 81.8% of the voting-eligible population participating in the presidential election.

While the 2020 election’s turnout is historic, it brings with it an undeniable opportunity to course-correct, to show the world and each other the capability of America. Democrats’ control of the White House presents a palpable responsibility to redemonstrate our role in the world, to govern as one country, and ensure civility finds its way into legislative chambers across the country.

America’s most exportable currency is our ability to illustrate what’s possible in a representative democracy. While imperfect, our quest for a more perfect union has an immeasurable impact around the world.

From human rights and the environment, to science leadership and enabling a thriving middle class, the last four years have been a regression on all fronts. Similar to the responsibility in our own corner of America, we must lead by example and govern for a sustainable future, not just the next election cycle.

In business, we’re often presented with opportunities to do the right thing. From mitigating a crisis to managing the mundane, there’s always the choice to do what’s easy or to do what’s right.

The Democrats’ majority in Congress presents the party with the option to retaliate against or to collaborate with their colleagues across the aisle. Leading by example in Washington is the first step to repairing the divisiveness that has become familiar in American political life.

Some say that civility has hardly been the norm in American politics — rather, it’s the exception. From the Federalists’ personal squabbles to the president’s daily tone and tenor, politics is far from friendly. A PBS News Hour poll from 2018 reported that nearly 80% of Americans are concerned that lack of civility in politics will lead to violence. This, coupled with increased tribalism and disinformation on social media, continue to set us on a dangerous trajectory that undermines our democracy.

The recent behavior at Seattle City Hall further proves how incivility can impact governance. Instead of collaborative and deliberate policymaking, Seattle’s process is often overtaken by loud voices and political theater. This approach wastes precious cycles to impact meaningful change, often resulting in policy reversals and litigation.

To find our way out of this, we must be comfortable understanding and seeing other’s perspectives, we must detach ourselves from the idea of being right, and we need to be vulnerable to realize and acknowledge the deficiencies in our own points of view. Mastering this, with grace, will enable us to have productive conversations that collectively move us forward.

Look no further than the first three words of the preamble to the Constitution with “We the People” sets the tone for one of our most important political documents.

President-elect Biden reminded us of this when he announced his campaign by saying “It’s not you, it’s not me, it’s not we the Democrats, or we the Republicans — it’s we the people.” He goes on to say that “It’s a statement of common purpose of one people, one nation, one America.”

If there ever were a time to change our trajectory as one nation and one city, it is now.