“I’m a proud democrat, but I will govern as an American president". I’ll work as hard for those who didn’t vote for me as those who did. Let this grim era of demonization in America begin to end here and now."
Joe Biden (November 7, 2020)
The political divides and increasing distrust of our governmental institutions, elections and even acceptance of real facts has reached a tipping point where our democracy is at risk.
During the campaign and when announcing his victory, Joe Biden proclaimed he’d be an “American president”.
As part of his transition schedule, he has met with Democratic leaders, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer.
President-elect Biden would be wise to extend a similar invitation to Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy. While they might be reluctant to attend fearing Trump’s wrath, they surely understand to resolve the enormous and complex health, economic, social and international challenges facing America, Republicans and Democrats must work together.
He would also do his presidency and the nation a favor by committing to meet privately with members of Congress from both parties on a regular basis; to share views and concerns and to listen to one another with an open mind; absent the name-calling and acrimony which have characterized Trump’s rare meetings with members of Congress.
As our elected representatives from both parties swear an allegiance to the constitution rather than to any individual, they can help rebuild America and break-down the chasms of distrust and cynicism which have divided us as a people by a demonstrating a willingness to embrace cooperation rather than confrontation, compromise rather than intransigence, facts rather than conspiracy theories, respect for those holding different opinions and actually talking one other rather than communicating via Tweet.
Americans deserve no less!
