When was the last time you had a real conversation about what government is actually supposed to do? Not a screaming match about specific policies, but a genuine discussion about the fundamental role of government in America? I (Nicole) and Jolene have been friends for almost 40 years despite living on opposite sides of the political spectrum, and recently we realized we'd never actually tackled this most basic question: What should our government be doing, and how much should it be involved in our daily lives?

The answer, it turns out, is a lot more complicated than either of us expected. And surprisingly, we found more common ground than we thought possible.

The role of government in America has been debated since the country's founding, and it will continue being debated long after we're gone. The tension between federal power and states' rights, between individual liberty and collective responsibility, between free markets and social safety nets - these tensions are what keep our democracy dynamic and responsive.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Founding Documents: The U.S. Constitution: https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/drafting-table/item/drafting-the-united-states-constitution

The Declaration of Independence: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript

Political Reference: Mamdani Reference: https://x.com/jimfornyc/status/1972443061021233220?s=46

Good for the Soul Content: Bill Maher: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPFyqBOjhij/?igsh=Z2k4MG96aW1pMm96

LINKS:

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/