Memorial Day is a time to remember the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our Constitution and way of life. Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address conveyed both gratitude and responsibility, calling citizens to “highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.”
Our family was blessed that relatives who served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, and the Global War on Terror survived their service, returned home, raised families, and lived productive lives.
My father served in Korea, which sparked my interest in military history — how wars are fought. That interest eventually led me to political theory — why nations go to war — and then to biblical history and the deeper question of why people conflict with one another in the first place.
Early in my career, I attended a four-day seminar led by W. Edwards Deming, whose work on quality improvement transformed industries around the world. Deming often summarized his philosophy with a simple statement: “It all has to do with reducing variation.”
It took me years to appreciate the depth of that insight. Over time, I came to see how the principle of reducing harmful variation connects Citizenship, Quality Management, and both secular and Christian approaches to learning and continuous improvement.
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the American experiment in self-government. Events such as the Freedom 250 Rally at the National Mall highlighted the influence of Judeo-Christian principles on the Constitution and the ongoing challenge of helping “We the People” work toward a more perfect union.
In a perfect world, all human needs would be met. In our imperfect world, progress requires continual learning, better methods, and the willingness to reduce the gap between our ideals and our actions.
For atheists, agnostics, Christians, and non-Christians alike, that shared pursuit of improvement may represent important common ground. The deeper question is what ultimately defines the moral standard and motivates people to pursue it: man, God, or some combination of both.
After retiring, I began volunteering and attending county government meetings. After more than seven years and over 400 meetings, I decided to run successfully for county commissioner. Through my websites and Substack, I continue sharing ideas aimed at improving quality not only in national government, but also at the local level where citizens can make a direct difference.
As America approaches its 250th anniversary, this may be an ideal time to renew our commitment to learning, citizenship, and the continuous work of building a more perfect union.