Chris Jepson: We expect no less

What do we owe our fellow citizens? As one citizen to another? I’ve said for years that what I want in a next-door neighbor is that they maintain their property and are quiet. No noise before 10 a.m. No early morning weed-whacking. No noise after 10 p.m. No screaming midnight domestic disputes requiring squad cars. No barking dogs. Ever. No noise period. Just keep your property up and keep the peace.

Of course, you want to like your neighbor, to respect their lifestyle choices as well as how they treat their children and their partners. But so much of life is subjective, that to have the “good” neighbor is oftentimes the luck of the draw, of who — randomly — moves in next door or down the street. The minimum of neighborly qualities, however, are maintained property and quiet.

But what should we expect of our fellow citizens? Do we have obligations to one another? Should we expect more or less of our fellow citizens than we do of our actual next-door neighbors?

I am a relatively tolerant person when it comes to accepting the diverse human expressions of individuality. Short of having been a guard at Auschwitz, a rapist or pedophile or a scam artist of the magnitude of Bernie Madoff, I don’t so much care what you do or have done. Oh, don’t hunt wild game in Africa either, or own a company that pollutes underground water or run for public office as an unindicted grafter (see: Rick Scott).

What attributes should we expect of one another as equal citizens of America? One, pay your fair-share of taxes. Two, take care of you and yours such that none are a burden to the state. Three, subscribe to and support our democracy. Four, participate in our democracy by understanding, researching and voting for candidates who rationally consider the issues confronting the future of America.

That is my biggest complaint with the Republican Party. They don’t like “X” but don’t offer viable solutions to “X.” I’m in complete agreement with conservatives who believe as I do, that as individuals we should take care of ourselves and not be a burden to the state. OK, that said how best do we achieve that objective?

Looking 25-30 years out, how does America, for example, reduce its welfare rolls? Understanding, of course, that everyone here today is part of the American Team. That none of us chose to be born into impoverished circumstances or parented by negligent or absent parents. That prenatal care, good nutrition, a safe environment and sound educations are an American birth right falling on each of us as citizens of America to (collectively) provide for all our children, regardless of economic class. As the twig is bent so grows the tree. I unequivocally believe that. How then do we as Americans ensure that all of America’s children get a healthy start?

What I expect of my fellow citizen is that they see themselves as part of Team America, that ultimately we are all in this together and that we all have obligations to each other as citizens of the United States.

American philosopher Irving M. Copi observed, “[T]he success of democracy depends, in the end, on the reliability of the judgments we citizens make, and hence upon our capacity and determination to weigh arguments and evidence rationally.”

We are obligated as citizens to “weigh arguments and evidence rationally.” And do keep your property up while you’re at it. We expect no less.