“There is only one legitimate issue of creed in this campaign — and that is our devotion to the public good ahead of private interests.”
— Sen. John F. Kennedy, July 10, 1960
On Nov. 8, 1960, John F. Kennedy was elected president. More than six decades later, his words remain remarkably relevant.
The growing call for democratic progressivism, social democracy, or democratic socialism is fundamentally about one principle: putting the public good ahead of private interests. Republicans once called similar ideas “creeping socialism.” Franklin D. Roosevelt called his approach the New Deal.
Today, America stands at another crossroads. We can choose a democracy that works for all Americans — or a system increasingly shaped by concentrated wealth and power.
This does not mean abandoning capitalism or embracing extremism. A successful democracy can — and has — allowed capitalism to coexist with programs designed to protect and improve the lives of ordinary Americans.
Before labeling every progressive idea “socialism” or assuming “communism” is around the corner, we should learn from our own history. Roosevelt’s New Deal provided economic relief, financial reform, and jobs, and ultimately Social Security. Theodore Roosevelt championed the Square Deal. Lyndon Johnson created the Great Society. Martin Luther King Jr. called for social justice and equal rights.
These leaders were not identical in their beliefs, but they shared a fundamental idea: Government has a responsibility to serve the common good.
JFK described his moment this way: “The cries for help that come from around the country … from the unemployed and the underpaid and the unprotected … cries that must now be heard.”
Those cries still exist today. Americans struggle with the cost of food, housing, health care, and energy. Our rights and democratic institutions face challenges. Our standing in the world has suffered, and our environment demands attention.
We should not allow political labels, anger, or fear to keep us from seeing what we share. Basic human decency, human rights, and the desire to help our fellow Americans transcend red and blue.
History shows that America is strongest when we put people before power, community before greed, and the public good ahead of private interests.
As we move beyond this difficult period, we must believe in the goodness and common sense of ordinary Americans — and exercise the most important power we have: our vote.
If we want to preserve the freedoms our forefathers fought for, we cannot sit this one out.
Sincerely, Sam Torrence