If I were President of the United States, I wouldn’t raise my voice.
I’d raise the standard.
Because somewhere along the way, we confused volume with strength—
and we started mistaking those who shout the loudest for those who lead best.
But real leadership doesn’t need to dominate.
It doesn’t need to intimidate.
It doesn’t need applause or outrage.
Real leadership is strong—because it listens.
It builds coalitions instead of cults.
It unites, not to control, but to create.
The loudest voices in our politics today are not the bravest.
They are often the most afraid—afraid of losing control, relevance, or power.
They shout to silence others.
They yell over nuance.
They perform for cameras, not people.
But this is not strength.
This is emotional insecurity weaponized for public consumption.
Let me tell you about something that gives me hope:
In Barcelona, Spain, a group of everyday citizens built a tool called Decidim—Latin for “We Decide.”
It’s an open-source, digital democracy platform that lets people—not just politicians—propose, discuss, and vote on policies.
No cable news.
No billionaire donors.
No party loyalty required.
Just us. Thinking. Listening. Deciding—together.
That’s the future I believe in.
If I were President, I wouldn’t demand unity through fear.
I’d foster unity through trust.
Not because we all agree—
But because we all matter.
And when everyone matters, shouting becomes unnecessary.
This idea that power must be loud and aggressive?
That’s not how families work.
That’s not how communities thrive.
That’s not how democracy endures.
True strength shows up quietly.
It holds space for difference.
It makes room for growth.
And it never mistakes silence for weakness.
If I were President, I’d say:
Let’s lower the temperature—without lowering the truth.
Let’s stop rewarding tantrums and start rewarding character.
Let’s show the world that our strength is not in how loud we speak—
but in how deeply we listen.
Because stronger is not louder.
It’s steadier.
Wiser.
Willing.
This Is Us—and we are strongest not when we shout,
but when we stand side by side,
shoulder to shoulder,
ready to build something bigger than ourselves.
That’s the kind of strength I believe in.
That’s the kind of power we deserve.
Next up: Episode 7 – “This Is Us, Together”
Subscribe at This-Is-Us.org or u-pac.org for the conclusion of the series and a renewed vision for the future we still have the power to shape—together.
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