I don’t pretend to have the answers to this question, but I think discussing this now will be helpful.
I grew up in a state that spent so little on education, only 7 of 50 states spent less. Since I was in public education, you can imagine that kind of education that I received.
Why am I sharing this? For the average person, I would estimate that 95% of who they become is because of their environment. That 5% is their willpower and character.
I don’t see any difference between how a parent raises a child, and how society raises its citizens. If a child has a poor education like me, what can we expect from them? Nothing. If society doesn’t give its citizens a fair opportunity, what can we expect from them? Nothing.
Why did I say for an average person? There always seem to be people who are special and who rise above their environment. Like Fredrick Douglass and Harriet Tubman. These people were extraordinary. They knew a truth that the law didn’t recognize. That we are all equals, and equality always supersedes any laws.
Can we expect people who are ordinary to become extraordinary? No we can’t. So if we want a society that is peaceful, tolerant and moving forward what must we do? Can we narrowly favor only our own interests, or do we have to consider the well-being of others? Most of us are ordinary. I consider myself ordinary. There is no shame in that. But is that all we are? Can we not have moments of being extraordinary when we support change and candidates who want change?
We may not be able to personally do anything great in our lives, but we can help other great people do great things can’t we?