My daughter is three years old and learning one of the most important lessons of early childhood: sharing. She's figuring out how to take turns, play cooperatively, and consider others. It struck me recently—aren't these the same lessons many of our politicians need to revisit?
As adults in the United States, we already engage in shared experiences. We share roads when we drive, we share public parks and beaches, and we share the air we breathe. Yet, in our current political and economic climate, it feels as though many leaders have forgotten this. Too many are behaving as if they don't have to share—or protect—the resources we all depend on. They've forgotten that essential information, especially when it concerns public health and safety, must be shared transparently and urgently.
Seasoned hikers know that if they see a rattlesnake on the trail, they should warn others. Likewise, when top researchers discover that certain chemicals are harmful, they should be able to share that knowledge with the public. For example, when scientists alerted the public to the risks of BPA in baby bottles or asbestos as a building material. Today, it is crucial that the public understand the risks of PFAS in drinking water, phthalates, and other endocrine disruptors in personal care products, and how the widespread use of pesticides affects us all. When economists observe warning signs in the economy, they must be allowed to speak up. That is how a functional, responsible society works.