In the book The Bill Of Obligations: The 10 Habits of Good Citizens, Council Of Foreign Relations head Richard Haass explains that American citizens are one of the biggest threats to the country, and bold changes must be made to save democracy.
Key Details
- In the book Haass calls for change, stating that the very idea of citizenship must be revised and expanded.
- Haass has created a list of 10 obligations that coincide with The Bill Of Rights that America was founded on.
- The obligations are explained steps that follow The Bill Of Rights and re-envision what it means to be an American citizen and can help save the country.
Why it’s important
The United States faces threats from China, Russia, climate change, a collapsing economy, and many more, but one of the most significant threats to the country—American citizens, says Haass.
In his book The Bill Of Obligations: The 10 Habits of Good Citizens, the current president of the Council On Foreign Relations, Richard Haass explains that U.S. citizens are one of the most significant threats to the country as Americans often create conflicts by not agreeing on the nation’s rights.
Haass explains the Bill Of Obligations as a bold call for change calling Americans to do what is necessary to save the country’s democracy.
The nation was founded on the Bill Of Rights—the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution—yet many citizens argue about what is right and what is wrong, creating conflict. Haass created The Bill Of Obligations as a detailed list that coincides with The Bill Of Rights to explain good habits that all citizens should follow to help dissipate Americans as a threat to the country.
The obligations take the original fundamentals of the Bill Of Rights and teach readers how to take those attitudes and actions that have proved successful for America for centuries and implement them.
“We get the government and the country we deserve. Getting the one we need, however, is up to us,” says Haass.
The 10 obligations…
- Be informed
- Get involved
- Stay open to compromise
- Remain civil
- Reject violence
- Value norms
- Promote the common good
- Respect government service
- Support the teaching of civics
- Put country first