Timothy Snyder, author of On Tyranny, likes to restate the idea of US exceptionalism as both the politics of inevitability and democracy is not something you ar

Timothy Snyder, author of On Tyranny, likes to restate the idea of US exceptionalism as both the politics of inevitability and democracy is not something you are, it is something you do. Many people wrongly think that democracy is an inevitable result of capitalism, but if that's true then there is nothing extra you have to do to remain democratic other than participate in capitalism. If freedom is an inevitable result of being an American, then there is nothing you have to do to be free as long as you are American. If peace between two countries is an inevitable result of both countries "having a McDonalds", there is nothing extra you need to do to achieve peace except trade. If you want freedom, peace, or governance that represents you, you can't just be something, you actually have to hold beliefs and conduct yourself in a way conducive to those outcomes. You will love this video (12m): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eghl19elKk8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eghl19elKk8 (edited to make some statements more correct)