Then think about what kind of democracy you want and help move the national conversation in a more thoughtful direction
When one writes a weekly column, as I returned to doing not long ago, it’s usually pretty pointless to pen an epistle on some hot issue of the moment right before a big holiday weekend—because few people are going to read it.
Typically, it’s best for a columnist to muse about the holiday itself for a few paragraphs and leave it at that. Encouraging people to read the resulting work the way they’ll show up at a friend’s party they don’t really want to attend … dropping in halfway through, sticking around long enough to be seen by the host, and moving along to more pleasant pursuits.
I remembered this wisdom as I was casting about for something worth discussing today and stopped myself from writing another monster column like my previous installment.
The hot issues can wait. July 4 is falling perfectly on a Friday this year. Meaning most everyone gets three consecutive days off. And the most important thing anyone is thinking about is what they want on their burgers and dogs (yes, including veggie variants).
Still, well after stuffing oneself with tasty treats, blowing off some fireworks (carefully), and then watching the pros do the latter for real, there might come a point on Sunday when you have an hour or two of downtime with nothing going on. Not a blessed thing.
And if you are anything like me during such rare moments of tranquility, you might pause to turn off all the many devices that shape our thinking, moment to moment, in this era and just quietly reflect about your life. Where have you been? Where are you now? Where do you think you’re going? And what changes might lead to the best possible outcome for yourself and your family?
So I’d like to suggest that given all the big changes going on in the US and around the world, you might find time to change up that routine and think about: where our nation has been, where it is now, where you think it’s going, and what changes might lead to the best possible outcome for the vast majority of Americans (and Americans to be)?
I think that the US would be a better place if more people did that simple exercise more often. And since July 4 is all about democracy, it would be even better if people considered my questions in that light: Where has American democracy been, where is it now, where do you think it’s going, and what changes might lead to the best possible democracy for the vast majority of Americans (and, again, Americans to be)?
Then, after the holiday is over—having slowed down and mulled things over in that fashion, even for 20 minutes—maybe our national discussions and debates will be a tiny bit more helpful because a few more people thought deeply about what they really want the US to be.
I, for one, would be pleased to see folks move the needle of national discourse in a more deliberative direction after such an effort, however slightly. And if people make a habit of this kind of activity from time to time, perhaps we’ll build a better country and a better world together someday.
For now, I hope that everyone has a great weekend.
Apparent Horizon—an award-winning political column—is syndicated by the MassWire news service of the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism. Copyright 2025 Jason Pramas.
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