“The primal act of healthy democracies is the social bargain…that in itself depends on the coexistence of different kinds of groups.” – The New Yorker, Oct. 2/2023, “You Rule” by Adam Gopnik.

The current times are a product of the fracturing of our social contract into its disparate groups. As a result, these groups are all pointing their fingers at the “others”, while working to install their own needs and desires. We have been promoted by social media and well known politicians to denigrate rather than debate. We have been through the “great recession” with serious loss of jobs and monies due to corporate and banking greed in excess of restrictions. We have been through globalization with its loss of well paying jobs, creating the gig economy.

We have been through the pandemic with its loss of personal freedoms. We have been through the commodification of homes for profit (begun by Goldman Sachs) with its loss of housing for many. Currently, we are living high inflation, causing hardships regarding food security and welfare. These changes are many and were quick to form. So, it is no surprise that trust in any due process is broken. Perhaps a better means is to “Town Hall”, meaning have ongoing information with discussions so that the people can express their concerns prior to any determination of a specific and overarching change. The loss of their known way of living is a terrible burden and fear to live, which currently expresses as anger and incivility.

To point the finger at their raw frustration and pain and is not to acknowledge the cause – the failure of those who rule. Transparency is a means by which light infuses understanding.

Barbara Dahlman

Prince Edward County