Originally published in Daily Herald on March 4, 2026.
Of late, there has been a national conversation about civics.
When the United States took a deep dive into STEM fields, prioritizing them above everything else in education back in the 1950s, civics took a back, middle seat. All of the problems we have today, from affective polarization to young people thinking there is no significant difference between living in an authoritarian regime or a democratic regime, can be traced to this pivotal moment.
Luckily, the nation realizes the existential crisis it finds itself in and is seeking solutions. Unfortunately, the national conversation assumes a zero-sum understanding of civics, with both sides asserting their party’s agenda. This is a false dichotomy.