Freedom is essential. So is a shared sense of the common good. The question is whether this balance can be preserved.
I think it can. We just need to realize the truth about ourselves.
What do you think?
Read the full piece: thebeaconproject.substack.com/p/solving-th...
- You see freedom as not just freedom from coercion but freedom to contribute.
- You see communities as support mechanisms for the discovery and cultivation of people’s gifts and talents.
- You see people not just as consumers of society but as active creators of it.
- You see people not as isolated individuals but as interconnected beings.
- You see society as a shared enterprise where our ability to thrive depends on others’ ability to do the same.
At the core of the article is a basic insight: that we experience a sense of meaning when we contribute to others' lives.
If we take this idea seriously, it means a radical rethinking of what we owe each other.
But here's a crazy thought: what if the solution to this conundrum is hiding in plain sight? That's the question I explore in a new article for the Beacon Project.
thebeaconproject.substack.com/p/solving-th...
There is a smoldering question at the heart of our political life: how do we balance people's freedom pursue their own path with their obligation to the common good?
Thousands of debates roiling our public discourse can be reduced to this simple dilemma.
@petedavis.bsky.social calls this "co-creation of our shared world," and argues that it only works when enough people see each other's dreams as their own.
Watch our full conversation: thebeaconproject.substack.com/p/seeing-eac...
I spoke with @petedavis.bsky.social for the Beacon Project podcast where he reframes what democracy actually is: not just voting or government structures, but the ongoing act of people collectively building the world they share.
For most of my life, the word “community” evoked images of boring town hall meetings. But the more I dug into ideas for how to escape our current political mess, the more I realized that there is no solution WITHOUT community. That led me to
@petedavis.bsky.social
Watch my full @cspanwj.bsky.social interview www.c-span.org/program/wash...
I joined @cspanwj.bsky.social to discuss the importance of civic education to a pluralistic democracy.
How do we show up for each other? How do we navigate difference? We can build more active and productive members of civic life by teaching civic education skills at a young age.
Watch my full conversation on @cspanwj.bsky.social ➡️ www.c-span.org/program/wash...
What is the Beacon Project?
I joined @cspanwj.bsky.social to discuss our work to identify a vision that speaks to the Exhausted Majority of Americans who feel as though their views are not reflected in current politics and want something better.
WATCH:
Washington Journal
#CSPAN #CSPANWJ
Skeet at @c-span.bsky.social and cspanwj.bsky.social
Daniel Yudkin @dyudkin.bsky.social on survey findings on how USians define civic responsibility in modern life and what it can mean for addressing #politicalpolarization.
Watch live here: tinyurl.com/2ntjnby8
We all *think* we know a lot more than we actually know.
Caroline Mehl at Constructive Dialogue Inst. explains the "illusion of explanatory depth" & how closing gaps between strong views & knowledge makes young people more open to new perspectives.
thebeaconproject.substack.com/p/our-minds-...
Was America always this polarized? How did we get here? And what can we do to foster better communication across lines of difference among the next generation?
Watch my conversation with Caroline Mehl at the Constructive Dialogue Institute thebeaconproject.substack.com/p/our-minds-...
My takeaway from @spspnews.bsky.social's #SPSP26?
Maybe the fact that there's little precedent for this work means it has the potential to meet the moment.
Maybe it's OK if what you do takes a little longer to explain.
Maybe it's a sign you’re on the right track.
This work is new and hard to explain. There is little precedent for this type of work in my field. People don't have a neat little "box" that they can slot it into.
But if we want to escape our current rut in American politics, we need new ideas—ones that sound weird at first.
When asked at @spspnews.bsky.social what I've been up to, I told folks that the Beacon Project at @moreincommonus.bsky.social is building a new vision for America's Exhausted Majority.
What's the Beacon Project? What do you mean by vision? By the time I answered, people's eyes had glazed over.
Hey psychology friends! If you’re at #SPSP2026, stop by the Morality or Political Psychology precons to see my poster on ideological differences in moral dilemma judgments.
We find liberals are more likely than conservatives to excuse low-power individuals for wrongdoing.
I had a fascinating conversation with Ted Johnson, Senior Fellow at @newamerica.org and columnist at @washingtonpost.com, on civic bravery and how its incumbent on us as ‘moral patriots’ to call out our nation’s institutions when they fall short.
open.substack.com/pub/thebeaco...
Can we realign civic life with the values of America's Exhausted Majority? I've obsessed over this question for 10 years & I believe the answer is yes.
Grateful to Paul Rader for the thoughtful dialogue on potentialism and civic renewal. Give it a listen: www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-Ve...
Don’t be fooled: Trumpism is not a monolithic movement. Our hidden gem of the week maps the diverse sections whose shared disgust at elite power and “wokeness” masks sharp splits over democracy and America's future.
By @dyudkin.bsky.social et al. at @moreincommonus.bsky.social
buff.ly/CK7zFIs
The Four Types of Trump Supporter: The president’s political power depends on his ability to play different roles for different parts of his coalition.
(@dyudkin.bsky.social and Stephen Hawkins)
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Our challenge isn't forcing agreement on the "right" way to be a citizen—it's recommitting to the common ground that makes our disagreements survivable.
What do YOU think good citizenship requires? Explore the data and take the quiz at civicprofile.us.
BUT, we're divided on what we think is most important.
More than 4 in 5 Democrats say “supporting equality” is a civic responsibility vs. two-thirds of Republicans.
Meanwhile, nearly three-quarters of Republicans view “loving America” as a civic duty vs. fewer than half of Democrats.
We found that across the political spectrum, Americans strongly agree that civic responsibility matters.
A vast majority of Democrats and Republicans alike say we have a responsibility to vote, pay taxes, serve on juries, respect the Constitution, defend freedom, and help our communities.
In @usatoday.com, I reflect on the Beacon Project's new research that asked 5,000 Americans: What are our civic responsibilities?
We found a country not divided over whether citizenship matters, but one with different ideas about what good citizenship looks like.
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
My latest piece for @usatoday.com reminds us that America has never been about sameness. From the beginning, this country has depended on people who show up differently, bring different gifts and express commitment in different ways. www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
#Potentialism, a new political philosophy from the Beacon Project at @MoreinCommon_US offers a way forward that preserves both freedom and mutual responsibility.
Read more: thebeaconproject.substack.com/p/our-civic-...
