Families: Democracy's Most Important Need
If you were to make a list of all of the variables that impact and contribute societal flourishing and happiness, it would be quite lengthy. For example, a list might include : education, health care, security, liberty, peace, democratic institutions, positive expectations of the future, just to name a few. However, as you made the list, you would notice that a number of variables are dependent upon other variables. In other words, some of those variables would not exist without another variable upstream. In theory, items like peace, liberty and security are really dependent upon the form and function of government and therefore considered a dependent variable. We could then begin to categorize variables into dependent and independent, at which we would end up with a handful of really important components, the independent variables, that are the foundation to societal bliss. Well, maybe not bliss, but definitely societal betterment....