Citizenship Is the Common Ground Business Needs

As Election Day approaches, Americans will hear more arguments about candidates, parties and the direction of the country. Strong disagreements are natural in a democracy, but they should not cause us to forget what we share. Before we are Republicans, Democrats or independents, we are citizens. Citizenship carries the right to express our beliefs, cast our ballots and criticize our government. It also carries a responsibility to respect the same rights when exercised by people whose conclusions are different from our own.

Civility does not require silence, surrender or artificial agreement. It means recognizing that political opponents remain neighbors, customers, employees, employers and fellow Americans. We can challenge ideas without questioning another person’s worth or loyalty. We can debate policies vigorously without treating every disagreement as an act of hostility. Democracy cannot function when persuasion gives way to intimidation or when winning becomes more important than preserving trust in the process itself.

The business community has a direct stake in this principle. Successful companies depend upon the rule of law, dependable institutions, peaceful elections and confidence that agreements will be honored. They also depend upon people with different experiences and beliefs being able to work together toward common goals. A workplace cannot prosper when contempt replaces cooperation, and an economy cannot reach its potential when citizens begin viewing one another primarily as enemies. Civility, therefore, is not merely good manners. It is part of the social infrastructure supporting investment, employment, entrepreneurship and economic growth.

This Election Day, we should vote according to our convictions—and then continue living together as citizens of the same country. Some of us will celebrate the results, while others will be disappointed. Both responses belong in a democracy. What must endure afterward is our commitment to lawful government, peaceful participation and respect for one another. Candidates and elections will come and go, but citizenship is the lasting bond. Protecting that bond may be among the most important contributions each of us can make to our communities, our businesses and the nation we share.

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