American democracy and health security are inextricable: American health security depends on maximizing our ability to live in a free society and manage a public health emergency simultaneously. Likewise, the health of our democracy depends on citizens’ faith in our institutions – our schools, workplaces, and especially our government –  to protect them in a crisis.

Somehow, we must find a way forward that both respects the individual freedoms we hold dear and supports the collective good—and do so now, before the next devastating health emergency strikes.

That path forward is illuminated by the state and local leaders – lamplighters – who innovated in the pandemic’s darkest days, and whose efforts reflected the ingenuity, collaboration, debate, and shared decision making that are hallmarks of American democracy.

American democracy and health security are inextricable: American health security depends on maximizing our ability to live in a free society and manage a public health emergency simultaneously. Likewise, the health of our democracy depends on citizens’ faith in our institutions – our schools, workplaces, and especially our government –  to protect them in a crisis.

Somehow, we must find a way forward that both respects the individual freedoms we hold dear and supports the collective good—and do so now, before the next devastating health emergency strikes.

That path forward is illuminated by the state and local leaders – lamplighters – who innovated in the pandemic’s darkest days, and whose efforts reflected the ingenuity, collaboration, debate, and shared decision making that are hallmarks of American democracy.