Dear John,

Democracy forms the backbone of our country. For many, participation comes in the form of voting, but our system requires far more than that. To be a fully functional system of governance, the constituents must be engaged and involved in the civic process on a regular basis. The largest obstacle to more engagement: a lack of trust in how people are governed. For trust in our leaders and systems, there must be accountability and recognition of where our democracy is thriving and areas where it is lacking. President Biden’s State of the Union address was an opportunity for him to showcase to the country that he delivered on past promises, is aware and ready to take on current challenges, and has a vision for the country moving forward. 
 

“We all want the same thing. Neighborhoods free of violence. Law enforcement who earn the community’s trust. Our children to come home safely.

Equal protection under the law; that’s the covenant we have with each other in America.”
 

The most emotionally charged part of President Biden’s speech was his comments on Tyre Nichols, a young Black man who was beaten to death by police officers following a traffic stop in Memphis, Tennessee. The overwhelming lack of accountability and unchecked power in law enforcement is why the killing of Tyre Nichols was sadly just the most recent example of police brutality in this country. In the audience were his parents, RowVaughn and Rodney Wells, who now fight for police reform in Tyre’s honor. The chief responsibility of law enforcement is to keep Americans safe. So, when the Black community repeatedly sees their peers killed at the hands of the police, there is no sense of trust nor hope for community building, and rightfully so. After outlining all he had done via executive action, President Biden re-issued his call for bipartisan legislation on police reform. 
 

“When I came to office, most everyone assumed bipartisanship was impossible. But I never believed it.”
 

The most eye opening moment of the address: President Biden’s turning of GOP heckling into a live, public negotiation on fiscal policy, social security, and Medicare– seemingly coming to an agreement that both programs were off limits when it comes to future negotiations around government budgets. The social safety net allows Americans to have an income after they retire and ensure they have access to health care. Americans pay into it throughout their careers knowing, once they retire, they will not be forced to endure a life of poverty and can ensure their healthcare needs are being met without worry.

Read the rest of our article here.