Explanation

However, in order to understand just how important involvement on behalf of the citizens really is to the success the US's once proud democracy, we must first define what it means to be a truly active and empowered participant in society. Thomas Ehrlich in Civic Responsibility and Higher Education has this to say about it:
A morally and civically responsible individual recognizes himself or herself as a member of a larger social fabric and therefore considers social problems to be at least partly his or her own; such an individual is willing to see the moral and civic dimensions of issues, to make and justify informed moral and civic judgments, and to take action when appropriate. (“The Definition of Civic Engagement”)
By this definition, social civic involvement incorporates elements of selflessness in the pursuit of progress, be it in the form of acquired justice or radical, widespread social change. This means that in order to avoid social stagnation and promote forward progress, Americans must act outside of their own self interests to promote good will for all, not simply improvement in their immediate, direct sphere of influence” (“The Definition...”).