The Compassionate Community

140397408x.01._aa240_sclzzzzzzz_v54482924_

By Jonathan Miller

As the Democratic elected State Treasurer and Jewish native of Kentucky, a “red” state in the heart of the Bible belt, I bring a unique perspective to today’s intense and polarizing debate concerning the proper role of religion and “moral values” in the political arena. I have come to understand that while religion sometimes has been the source of divisiveness, the language and lessons of faith can unite most Americans.

In The Compassionate Community: Ten Values to Unite America, I share my vision of a society where Americans of all faiths can build a stronger democracy. The devout would not be forced to moderate their faith, nor would nonbelievers be forced to adapt to a religious standard. Rather, public policy would be rooted in the universal value of compassion–in the words of the Scripture, “to love your neighbor as yourself.”

By Jonathan Miller

The Compassionate Community is my blueprint for a new vision of the common good. When we all take action on issues such as poverty and climate change, we truly reflect our shared moral values.

Politicians from both parties reacted swiftly to the lessons learned from the 2004 elections. Conservative Republicans tried to exploit their values advantage by amplifying their rhetoric, accusing liberals of demeaning people of faith in policy disputes and judicial nomination battles. Liberal and moderate Democrats began to inject more discussions of faith and values into their public pronouncements and made best-sellers of authors such as Jim Wallis and former President Jimmy Carter, both of whom argue that the right is wrong in its interpretation of God’s teachings.

No one, however, has attempted to design a coherent vision for American public policy that is rooted in and informed by the true core values embraced by our religious and democratic traditions. More significantly, we have not tried to develop a values-based policy agenda that transcends labels and could unite Americans of all faiths and political persuasions. Instead, the current values debate is marked by the use of inflammatory fear tactics designed to rally partisans at the ideological extremes, while ultimately serving to further polarize and divide our “red” and “blue” nation.

That’s why I offer The Compassionate Community. It has a simple theme: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” When Americans put aside our own selfish desires and instead act on the behalf of the greater good, we create a compassionate community, a society that provides everyone who works hard and assumes personal responsibility an opportunity to share in the American Dream. It reflects our aspirations, our ideals, our better angels, in contrast to the selfish ambition scorned by the Apostle Paul. It appeals to our hearts, instead of our fears. In the ten chapters that follow, I discuss ten essential American values that emanate from this core theme, and that will, if enacted, lead us to a more united nation. The ten essential values are:

1. Opportunity

2. Responsibility
3. Work
4. Family
5. Freedom
6. Faith
7. Justice
8. Peace
9. Respect
10. Life

I discuss some of my own life experiences—both personal and political—to demonstrate the universality and current relevance of each of these values. More importantly, I draw from some of the lessons I have taught to teenagers in Sunday School for almost a decade, illustrating each of these values with the story of a hero from the Hebrew Bible.

The tales of great biblical figures such as Abraham, Moses, David, and Esther do more to animate these values than would thousands of policy white papers.

Jonathan Miller is the State Treasurer of Kentucky. He has been named an emerging national leader by groups as diverse as the Democratic Leadership Council, the United Jewish Communities, and the Aspen Institute. A graduate of Harvard College and Law School, Miller lives in his hometown of Lexington, Kentucky, with his wife and their two daughters. Miller is donating all of his profits from The Compassionate Community to charity.