As a hospice chaplain and a state representative, I am guided by a simple truth: We are all connected. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” I see that every day, whether sitting with a family in hospice or amending a bill in Springfield.

At its best, government reflects that interconnection. It’s how we come together to serve the common good, to make sure every neighbor has a fair chance, a safe home, and the food and health care they need. When one person falls behind, the whole community feels it.

But lately, that shared sense of connection has been strained. The lingering trauma of COVID-19 and the loneliness that comes from so much time online have left many feeling isolated and less empathetic. When compassion fades, we

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