Cultivating cooperation
A scenic hillside viewed from Cloudland Road in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
Cultivation leads to greater things, and it's the same in gardening as in life. Some conditions make it more difficult, but the task is worth the effort. Better days will come if you tend the soil properly — a concept I saw in action while gardening over the summer.
That concept applies to our politics, as well, and there is much work to do. America's partisan divide has deepened greatly, and it seems no corner of the U.S. is untouched by its impact. Even after the Jan. 6 siege on the U.S. Capitol, Congress remains divided, and perhaps even more so following that tragic day.
Though divisions in the country might have deepened further, it's important to remember another impact from that day: It made working together even more crucial. The bedrock of democracy is civil society, in which people can work together for the common good. Taking steps in that direction is key to the cultivation and very survival of our democratic system. The soil is ready for democracy to flourish when we reach common ground and collaborate successfully.
The resolve to do this will be tested quickly in the new administration. On Thursday, President-elect Joe Biden announced his American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion proposal that includes $1 trillion in direct relief to Americans, as well as funding for a national vaccination plan, efforts to contain COVID-19, and relief for communities and businesses. There were no specifics on timing, but Biden has noted all of these as top priorities.
The Biden team faces the challenge of working through critical priorities at the same time as an impeachment trial in the Senate — which could be a difficult test for any bipartisan efforts going through Congress. However, we still must build and sustain those efforts. As the bipartisan momentum behind the latest COVID-19 relief bill showed, there are lawmakers willing to strike a balance and compromise.
As we know, however, the work of cultivating democracy is larger than what happens in Congress. Forging positive connections and finding common ground is very important outside of those chambers. That looks like a steep hill to climb right now, as tensions are high and people appear far apart on big issues. But we have to try to take the necessary steps toward a stronger, more unified America, though progress may be slow at first.
Like cultivating the soil, there are days which feel longer than others, times when it's simply harder to move forward. But forward is the only direction to pursue. We must continue this process, and imbue the soil of our society with love, compassion and empathy. Together, our steps will lead us on to a better place, a stronger democracy, where our best work is done because we care for each other and we truly understand we are one people. Let each of us plant a seed of cooperation and reap the harvest of the greater good.
— Gareth Henderson
