Three principles have defined Dave Card’s life and career: freedom from tyranny, freedom in Christ and freedom to serve others. These principles inspire his support for the Mackinac Center’s vision of an educated, self-governing society.

Dave spent his childhood in an East Lansing neighborhood surrounded by men — World War II veterans — who understood that freedom is precious. This experience left Dave with a deep appreciation for American ideals.

Dave’s grandfather had a significant impact on his life. A small-town school principal, Carl G. Card later became a professor of poultry science at Michigan Agricultural College, now Michigan State University. He also served as mayor of East Lansing, chairman of the East Lansing State Bank and president of the local Kiwanis Club.

Dave, like his grandfather, studied at MSU, taking up civil engineering before serving as an officer in the U.S. Navy for three years.

“I didn’t know how to be a leader until I was required to be one,” Dave says. His grandfather’s example of service inspired him to be the best servant-leader he could be.

Dave’s post-Navy career took him to work for the city of Lansing and Meridian Township.

When he wasn’t on the job, Dave helped with the Christian Service Brigade, a youth development organization. He mentored two fatherless boys and saw that government handouts were hurting families, not helping them. “Investing in people and teaching them personal and financial responsibility,” he decided, was the solution.

Dave still leads the East Lansing unit of the Christian Service Brigade, where he teaches young boys the importance of freedom, responsibility and character. “Citizenship does not mean receiving, it means responsibilities,” he says. “It means serving others.”

Dave is proud to be an American citizen. The U.S. Constitution, he says, “is the most radical thing since Jesus Christ,” and it has led to the most prosperous, generous society in the world.

A society that encourages prosperity and is built for self-governance gives people power to serve the less fortunate. Dave supports the Mackinac Center’s work to further truth and limit government, but more importantly to encourage the educated, self-governing society that our founders envisioned.