“A government guided by the Golden Rule” published in azCentral, Golden Rule Moments

golden rule moments

A government guided by the Golden Rule

Dr. Albert Celoza

Special to The Republic

American politics has become so polarized that people have become sharply divided into groups vehemently opposed to the point of hating the other. Founding Father James Madison called this the ‘violence of faction’ and a great threat to democracy. In meeting Jane Andersen, I learned the possibility that the government can be guided by ethical principles based on the Golden Rule.

First, an important background. Jane came from the family of Darl Andersen, who was an elected public official in the city of Mesa and a leading exponent of the Golden Rule. During his lifetime, Grandpa Darl reached out to as many members of the community, especially those of different beliefs. A big part of his life was about the need for and the power of listening to one another. Thus, in Jane’s civic work, she embraces curiosity and the power of learning about other people’s stories. Following Grandpa Darl, the Andersen family continues to talk about the need to treat others how we would like to be treated. This requires work–but is worth every effort.

Andersen

Jane’s academic background included studies in economics and political science, and she has served in various careers like investment banking, academia, international relations outreach in New York City, communications director for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and even a fitness instructor

Since 2024, Jane has taken on the task as the Arizona state director of MWEG – Mormon Women for Ethical Government. This organization is founded on the principles of adherence to the rule of law, human and civil rights, civic duties, and mutual accountability of people toward one another. MWEG believes that government by the people and for the people is the foundation of a just and productive government.

Why would it be a particular task of women to lead these efforts? According to Jane, women tend to have a unique vantage point in society–intricately involved in home life while also playing pivotal roles in civil society. Women usually carry the heaviest role in caregiving for others, which makes them particularly adept at approaching issues with the marginalized and vulnerable in mind. As women, they seek to ensure that our government operates according to key principles to meet the needs of the citizens, not just to promote party politics. Women generally work collaboratively and recognize diverse points of view on issues and the effort to find principled accommodations that can be made by parties to arrive at a solution.

Jane’s life embodies these ideas while fulfilling her many roles. She is able to put time to civic action while attending to her tasks as a wife and mother of four children. Jane shared that she and her husband ‘operate as a team and provide needed support to one another as we address the needs in our family, especially that of our 19-year-old son with special needs.

‘Civic engagement, particularly right now, can be stressful,’ so she makes sure to exercise regularly by being a gym instructor a few times a week.

Jane Andersen would love to see more focus on peacemaking in civic spaces rather than zero-sum battles to win. She and her organization consider protecting democracy, immigration, rooting out racism, and things related to children and families as important issues. She would love to call on the better nature of politicians and have them lead in a way that reaches to the exhausted majority in the middle because that’s where most people are. Truly, this approach exemplifies government and politics guided by the Golden Rule.

Albert Celoza, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of the Arizona Interfaith Movement.