Informed – educate yourself. Vote – participate in political process. Law abiding

An informed individual that participates in the democratic process. The “good” citizen represents themselves and their community.

Rigidity – unwillingness to listen/consider other points of view. Siloed information sources reinforcing what people already think – not offering alternative points of view.

Taking care of the city, county, or community you live in. Catering to the needs of other members of the country who would be in need. Advocating for less fortunate members of your society. Being knowledgeable of issues in your community. Having equal access and communication of news in your community.

The main challenges facing democracy today are much of the electorate’s inability to think critically and to exert the necessary mental energy to research not just the issues, but workable and equitable solutions. A willfully uninformed public that prefers unverified opinions, even repetitive ranting, will be the undoing of our society no matter the form of government. We have seen what tyranny of the majority and moneyed interests have done to political discourse, pursuit of sound policies and the well-being of the nation as a whole. Demagoguery and jingoism coupled with authoritarian populism are readying to tear our house down. More credible, serious media coverage, a cessation of algorithmic pandering in an atmosphere of real civics education may be the the beginning of the long arduous way forward to a truly a civil society.

If a well-educated citizenry is essential to our democracy, then to be a good citizen means taking the time to learn about the important policy issues of the day. That understanding in turn can inform choices in the voting booth, in volunteer opportunities and charitable donations, and in careers themselves. These days, it’s equally important to consider the source of information to learn about the issues, but that’s a Democracy Conversation for another day.