In an effort to make my writing more regular, or at least to find an easy format to fall back on, I’m introducing a new series. In it, I’ll take “On This Day in History” and superimpose it on recent events, my life, or modern life more broadly. I’ll draw conclusions that I find intriguing, pose some questions, and inevitably make some reprehensible mistakes.

I’m beginning, of course, at a tumultuous time in U.S. history: election week. Election week has many examples to draw on that directly relate to recent events. It feels like a bit of a cop-out to go with one of these examples, so for that reason, I’m purposely avoiding other election-based moments in time. This doesn’t mean I’ll avoid the topic altogether—just that the historical tie won’t be directly political (too boring).

Steve McQueen died on November 7, 1980. His career and life can generally be described as defining “Cool” and potentially dangerous by some. There’s a certain sense of inspiration that comes from figures like McQueen. I find myself drifting from his fictional portrayals to real-life entrepreneurs like Kirk Kerkorian. It’s undeniable that figures like McQueen and Kerkorian inspire a certain get-up-and-go dynamism that’s at the heart of American culture. I believe this is one of the reasons the United States is where it is today. I came very close to using the first couple of pages from the first issue of *The New Republic* by journalist Herbert Croly. In it, Croly details much of the general political angst in 1914: war, suffrage, and bipartisan struggles (sound familiar?). Much of what’s described in *The New Republic* and defined by McQueen’s life can be summarized as dynamic, potentially even chaotic, but I believe that’s at the heart of the American spirit and one of the reasons it’s so great to live in this country.

The reason that the United States works, the reason that it feels like a blessing to live here, is because of the energy that’s allowed to run free. The arguments, the larger-than-life players, the partisan nature, the entrepreneurial spirit—all of it plays a vital part in defining that certain sense many of us have. It doesn’t matter if you felt like you were on the right or wrong side of history four years ago, this past Tuesday, or forty years ago. That’s because you can always fight in the United States. You can choose just how much of your personal time, money, sweat, and tears you want to invest in anything. There haven’t been many times in history where this has been true—if any. Not to this extent, not for this length of time.

Many believe, or at least enjoy proposing, that we’re either at the end of American greatness or reaching a tipping point. I would posit that we’re actually experiencing a state of unrest equal to the day the United States was founded. That permanent state of unrest has fed the beast of progress, driving U.S. citizens to be these larger-than-life characters. It’s that state of constant change that drives so many from around the world to look for a way in. It’s that state of unrest that causes people to have such strong opinions about the future of this country, because they know they can make a difference.

I’m not naive. I don’t think the United States will be around forever. I know of the historical examples where nations and empires have flown too close to the sun for too long, but I also have no interest in the Cassandras of the world (I guess that’s their curse). It feels almost impossible, what’s been created in the United States. Look at Steve McQueen again: born to a rough family, an alcoholic mother, cast out into the streets, and began to run with the wrong crowd. He goes on to be an avid car and motorcycle enthusiast and racer, as well as the highest-paid actor in the country. His story is incredible, jaw-dropping, and not unique. Yes, there are stories of those who “go for it” and fail dramatically in the United States too. But there again is the beauty—nobody there to catch them or support them. They took the risk and went for what they thought was possible.

I think this can be summarized well by what it means to race cars. You take your life in your hands, but you have a choice to participate. It’s thrilling; there’s usually only one winner, and people can die, but it’s a damn good race. Race car driving is only possible if you have some rules in place and a track, but nobody gets in the way of the process. The cars have certain advantages or disadvantages, but generally it’s a level playing field. You are the one in the driver’s seat at the end of the day. You choose how fast you go, what races you participate in, and how dangerously you drive.

Where does this get us? Is it always a country that everyone wants to live in? To me, the answer is an unequivocal no. But again, that’s the whole idea. You are not part of some big happy family. There’s a reason communism and socialism have not worked on a national scale at any point in human history. This brings us to a point I heard delivered well by Naval Ravikant: “At the family level, I’m a communist. At the community level, I’m a socialist. At the state level, I’m a Democrat. At the national level, I’m a Republican. And at the world level, I’m a libertarian.” You choose how to act at each stage in the United States. You are in the driver’s seat at all phases. You have the track laid out in front of you by our Constitution and its amendments. At the end of the day, you can decide what the race looks like for yourself.

The energy that’s created here is undeniable. It may make you uncomfortable at times. There will be other times when you feel like your team is “winning.” But at the end of the day, you get to participate in this race. I hope if anyone ever reads this blog, and they’re an American, they take a moment to appreciate that fact. You’re in the race. You get to participate. It doesn’t matter who you are; if you’re here, it’s a great big world out there that’s ready to be changed by you.

To end on a Steve Jobs quote: “The minute you understand that you can poke life and actually something will—you know if you push in, something will pop out the other side—that you can change it, you can mold it—that’s maybe the most important thing.”