100 Forces Driving More
haul it, and the bereaved family would not have to worry about it. No
matter what we were doing, the norms of the community took priority.
If America has learned anything since 201 , it is that norms still mat-
ter. The Constitution contains some rules, but it can never fully guide
the behavior necessary to govern a nation. Bridging the divide between,
on the one hand, the Constitution and the laws it inspires, and, on the
other hand, how people actually live are unwritten norms. One of the
most important is mutual toleration, an acceptance that rivals can be
equally patriotic and can govern legitimately. Another is forbearance—
practicing restraint in the exercise of power, knowing majorities can
become minorities.
James Madison wrote that “Governors must arm themselves with the
power which knowledge gives,” which leads to the question at hand:
What kind of governance are we willing to accept? Will we pay enough
attention to ensure that it promotes the interests of all people? If we do,
the contribution of food to shared interests will come into sharper focus.
People will be emboldened to call out self-serving agendas. Businesses
will have a harder time claiming sole allegiance to shareholders. We will
stop pursuing specialized privileges at the expense of sacrificing broader
rights. The pay-to-play politics will give way to informed voters, who
will recognize that along with rights come responsibility and personal
accountability.
When this happens, the original purpose of governance will be
renewed. Norms will be more than what can be legally skirted. Facts
will be more than personal opinions. And science will be more than
individual beliefs. Because as we will explore in the next chapter, science
is not something we pick and choose, as if offered on a dessert tray à
la carte—science is the closest thing society has to divining true north.