Laudator Temporis Acti

Philip Manville and Josiah Ober, The Civic Bargain: How Democracy Survives (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2023), p. 5:

1. No Boss—except one another: citizens govern themselves, directly or through accountable representatives
2. Security and Welfare: ensure common safety, freedom from harm, and basic means of living as a common good for all
3. Citizenship Defined: formally specify who is a citizen, and what that means, including the extent of citizens’ equality, freedoms, and responsibilities
4. Citizen-Led Institutions: maintain institutions of decision-making and conflict resolution under the charge of members of the democracy
5. Good Faith Compromise: prefer common good compromise in political decisions over unilateral demands for perfection
6. Civic Friendship: act as “civic friends” with one another, not as enemies, smoothing the way to renegotiate bargains with one another and meet future challenges
7. Civic Education: provide civic learning and experiences for citizens, instilling the values and practices they need to keep bossless self-governance