Understand, democracy does not require uniformity.
Our founders quarreled and compromised, and expected us to do the same.
But they knew that democracy does require a basic sense of solidarity – the idea that for all our outward differences, we are all into this together; that we rise or fall as one.
There have been moments throughout our history that threatened to rupture that solidarity.
The beginning of this century has been one of those times.
A shrinking world, growing inequality; demographic change and the specter of terrorism – these forces haven't just tested our security and prosperity, but our democracy as well.
And how we meet these challenges to our democracy will determine our ability to educate our kids, and create good jobs, and protect our homeland.
In other words, it will determine our future.
Our democracy won't work without a sense that everyone has economic opportunity.
A good news is that, today, the economy is growing again; wages, incomes, home values, and retirement accounts are rising again; poverty is falling again.
