No Mercy / No Malice: Agency

Defining Agency

Agency is the capacity to make choices and take actions that shape one's future and the world around them. George Hahn emphasizes that agency is a fundamental aspect of human autonomy and identity, motivating individuals to be more capable and resilient 1. He argues that statistics often obscure individual potential, as people are not confined to the averages of their demographic groups 1.

You are not your cohort. You are not sentenced to be the average of your peers, the median of your race or the mean of your gender.

--- George Hahn

Hahn also contrasts agency with victimhood, noting that exercising agency involves making choices that shape one's life, while victimhood suppresses this potential 2.

   

Agency in Practice

Real-world examples illustrate how agency can shape lives, as seen in the stories of immigrants and entrepreneurs. George Hahn highlights how immigrants exercise agency by seeking opportunities, not handouts, and how the U.S. offers unprecedented reach for those with agency 3. He also discusses the inequality that exists but notes that those with a sense of agency can still find prosperity 4.

Agency is churn, the essence of upward mobility.

--- George Hahn

Hahn points out that cultures suppressing agency often benefit existing elites, while America, despite its challenges, offers a unique environment for agency to thrive 4.