. First, if everyday citizens are distanced and alienated from their elected
leaders, leaders have trouble mobilizing people for courageous acts of public good. Some of the
nation’s greatest triumphs – from the near elimination of elderly poverty, to the victory over Naz
fascism, to the huge strides toward ending racial discrimination – have involved a partnership
between an optimistic, mobilized public and trusted, visionary leaders. Second, it is difficult to
build strong, trusting relationships with one another – social capital – if we can’t count on public
institutions to punish people who don’t play by the rules. Our willingness to pay taxes, fo
example, hinges largely on our assumption that others will pay as well; but that assumption
depends on trusting the Internal Revenue Service to catch tax cheats. Similar logic applies to
everything from reporting for jury duty to abiding by watering restrictions.
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