Two Words That Can Change America

Whose job is it to solve America’s toughest problems? Some people point to Washington. Some people point to local leaders. But in many cases serious social problems are being solved by everyday citizens.

The practice of citizens banding together to solve problems without government direction is called “civil society,” and it has a long history in American culture. During the Colonial Era, a group of young men in Philadelphia led by Benjamin Franklin dedicated themselves to building civic institutions like libraries, hospitals, and volunteer fire brigades.

During the 19th century, America saw a flourishing of “mutual aid societies,” private charities dedicated to assisting people in need. These institutions grew into a support network for former slaves who couldn’t get assistance from government.

In the 1930s, three former addicts in Ohio started a support group to help alcoholics maintain their sobriety. Nearly a century later, we know it as Alcoholics Anonymous – and it operates in 180 countries.

The trend continues to this day. From a Florida charity that provides a compassionate alternative to the foster care system to a pair of veterans rooting out local corruption in Illinois, ordinary Americans are still finding private ways to solve public problems.

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