The five rules of responsible stewardship
10/6/2025
In a previous post, I shared a statement of core progressive beliefs. These beliefs provide the foundation for how progressives view the function of government in society.
In this post, I continue this project in sharing five key rules, or guidelines, derived from these beliefs, that I believe progressive leaders - including institutional leaders, but especially government leaders - should follow to promote and maintain a more progressive society. These rules are
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Value everyone equally, treat all equitably.
Every person has equal human worth and is thus equally entitled to certain fundamental rights. Such equality does not mean that leaders treat everyone the same. Rather it entails treating people according to their ability to enjoy their fundamental rights, ensuring resources and support go where they are needed most to secure a healthy, safe, and free life for everyone.
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Prioritize public over private interest.
Decisions must always favor the safety and well-being of the whole community over the profit or self-interest of any single person, corporation, or special interest group.
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Use data, evidence, public sentiment, and reason to promote, protect, and sustain the common good.
All government actions must be guided by facts, science, feedback, and sound judgment. We use diverse sources of information to actively build a better, safer, and more secure future for the long term.
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Use the Constitution as an effective, living framework for accountability.
The Constitution is the social contract, the bond of service, the government has with the people, as ordained by the people. It is the supreme guide for effective, responsible governance. As such, it should never be used as an excuse for inaction in the face of uncertainty or crisis. The Constitution is not a bottleneck, but a beacon, leading us towards solving the challenges we face while upholding our commitment to equality, liberty, and justice for all.
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Cultivate an informed and engaged citizenry.
Democracy requires active citizens. We must foster public education and ensure people have the information and motivation they need to hold their leaders accountable and participate fully in government.