REQUIREMENT FOR DEMOCRACY: EFFORT FROM ALL CITIZENS

nights from sea to shining sea. Sound familiar?

Concerned about the feelings of insecurity in the country leading to a “recession, etc.” Biggs asked the president to “assure (the people) that government does not operate without them and in consideration of them.” Biggs said he “felt from your recent speeches the feeling of hedging and a little uncertainty. We wait for someone to speak for us and back him completely if the statement is made with truth.”

President Eisenhower explained to Biggs his views of the divide in the country over security issues and explained about the “high degree of confusion and uncertainty on major national problems that seem to exist today.” Eisenhower explained that complex problems could only be understood if everyone had the same understanding of the issues and were, basically, on the same page.

Eisenhower then referred the veteran to Eric Hoffer’s book, “The True Believer.”

In it, Ike said, the “author points out that dictatorial systems make one contribution to their people which leads them to tend to support such systems— FREEDOM FROM THE NECESSITY OF INFORMING THEMSELVES AND MAKING UP THEIR OWN MINDS CONCERNING THESE TREMENDOUS COMPLEX AND DIFFICULT QUESTIONS (caps added).

Eisenhower goes on to tell his pen pal that as president he always endeavors to assist in “every way open to me in giving our people a better understanding” because being better informed “is vital to self-government and to our way of life as free men.”

So, as we head into the Christmas season with high hopes for more joy, not less, more freedom, not less, and a better understanding of our responsibility to keep our democracy strong and vibrant and not one given to autocratic tendencies by some of our leaders, try to remember the concerns of President Eisenhower almost 60 years ago.

Not the concern about the power of the military-industrial complex — we know he was right about that. I am talking about Ike’s fear that our democracy would and could only work if the people — that’s you and me— took the time and made the effort to inform ourselves about the issues of the day.

Democracy requires a lot of effort from every citizen. And every citizen requires the truth and truth telling, something in short supply today at the highest reaches of our government.

This Christmas we should do what Ike said. We should consider how to be better, more well-informed citizens. That is an effort which could bring more joy into our lives.

As for the truth, it is currently difficult to find it from our leaders who are supposed to tell it to us straight. We will have to leave it to Santa to put it under our collective Christmas tree!

Please, America, open your gift.