Josh Becker hosts forum on democracy, civil discourse in Menlo Park

“First question: What stands in the way of your happiness as, Jefferson wrote? What builds and enables that happiness?” lead moderator, constitutional scholar and former White House counsel John Simpkins asked the crowd. “Remember that deep sense of fulfillment. And then the second, what is necessary for the United States to now have the new birth of freedom that Lincoln conditions?” 

After 30 minutes of small group discussion, the answers were varied. Some of the participants cited a lack of basic needs — like healthcare and childcare — as barriers to seeking happiness and fulfillment. Others had conversations on ways to have healthy disagreement, and felt that achieving civil discourse was one key to a happy society. 

Although the challenges of modern society are different than the ones the founders and Lincoln faced, participants still found that focusing on the common threads, values and wants are still key to a functioning, free democracy and individual happiness. 

The conversations that Bay Area residents were having around the Declaration of Independence’s key tenets help to keep those goals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness alive, Simpkins said. 

“What I really appreciate from you all is that you took these documents and made them do work,” he said. 

The goal of the event was to bring together residents of all political affiliations and find common ground, Becker said, noting it had long been a dream of his to host conversations of this nature. 

“The purpose of today’s event is to look beyond the immediate noise, and in fact, to look backward to some of the core roots of our democracy,” he said. “It has never become more important to look back and study the past in order to create a brighter, more equitable future for all.” 

Simpkins encouraged attendees to take away shared values from the event, suggesting they go out for dinner or a cup of coffee with someone they disagree with. 

“Engage with people about the things that matter, about the things that matter in your community, and push away the noise of whatever is coming at you from outside,” he said. “Maybe you’ll find that you can actually move a little bit closer to that new world.”