A Postscript for Justice Souter: It is Important to Clarify the Difference Between Community Service and Civic Engagement

My most recent post discussed a talk given by Justice Souter on the subject of the importance of civics education, and the critical role it plays in preserving an independent judiciary. The focus of that piece was what Justice Souter described as the source of his understanding of civics, namely his experience observing democracy in action, in the form of annual town meetings in small town New Hampshire. That piece, in effect, argues that Justice Souter’s description of his experience shows that true civics education comes best from direct observation of or actual interaction with the democratic process itself, rather than mere exposure to philosophic notions or ideals during the four corners of the school house. There is another point worthy of attention that I did not raise in my piece of December 1, 2009. Although I pointed out that Justice Souter’s piece related to a “democratic experience,” I did not adequately point out that we should not confuse the description of his experience with that of someone engaging in “community service” and volunteerism. Community service is voluntary behavior or action that is designed to benefit a community or its institutions. Although a democracy is unlikely to function well without a population motivated to engage in community service, it is important not to confuse community service with the democratic experience. Community service can exist in any society, not just in a democracy or a democratic republic. Community service requires only that an individual or several individuals care about the needs the community itself or other members. For instance, one can provide food to the homeless without worrying about the causes of homelessness or whether there are larger social problems causing homelessness. Alternatively, one can volunteer to clean up a park without wondering if there are underlying societal problems causing the park require clean up. The democratic experience, however, requires its participants to evaluate the communal needs and the role of local, state, and national government in addressing those needs. Even the most libertarian among us see a role for government in assuring certain levels of safety from violence and the availability of roads for safe travel. Thus, the democratic experience is one where a citizen mentally goes beyond individual service and begins engaging in problem solving on a societal or global level. The democratic experience includes the thought process of devising societal solutions and the willingness to take communal steps towards resolving such problems. This may involve attending meetings on public issues, working with others to resolve the problem, raising money for a community or lobbying association, or even volunteering to elect a particular candidate. One can only have a true democratic experience in a society that allows for such. A society which tells its young that they have no power to alter social institutions is not truly democratic, regardless of whether the law technically provides for democracy. However, a society where citizens feel a sense of ownership towards their government, and thus empowered to organize for change to government’s institutions is truly democratic. By “change to government’s institutions,” I do not only mean the type of radical change sought by Saul Alinsky-style activists. I am also referring to budgetary changes and communal priority changes that would be decided upon in the town meetings described by Justice Souter. Thus, the democratic experience includes the thought process of devising societal solutions and the willingness to take communal steps towards resolving such problems. This experience may involve attending meetings on public issues, working with others to resolve the problem, raising money for a community or lobbying association, or even volunteering to elect a particular candidate. In other words, it is this democratic experience, rather than community service, which is the essential function of those citizens who are democratically engaged.