American "democracy" is in trouble because our System, a Constitutional Republic, no longer fits our Situation. Our System was designed in the 18th century, a time of small independent farmers, craftspeople and shopkeepers. The Founders assumed that a fair competition will generate Win/Win results. But in today's world of international corporations, mal-distribution of wealth, media silos, and inter-dependence this win/win design has turned Lose/Lose. Special Interests dominate the Public Interest and citizens are largely excluded. There are many "We need to ..." improvement ideas being discussed, but there is no "We" by which to consider them.
Many people mislabel our System as a "democracy" because its founding was amazingly democratic. That founding moment was "of, by and for the people," except of course, only white male property holders, were considered to be "the people." But still, this special moment invented the concept of "We the People," and the narrative that "We" ordained and established the U.S. Constitution. Later in 1789, once the Bill of Rights was passed, near unity was achieved among the people. Almost everyone was saying "yes, let's try this new system."
Today, the term "We the People" is used in a willy nilly fashion, as though any big gathering of people qualifies. But that's not it. It must be all of us engaged in a collective thinking process, reaching wise shared conclusions. Even when most all of us agree, like for instance, "No let's not trash the planet," that's not a "We the People." That's just lots of individuals "pursuing their individual happiness," thinking they all agree without any prospect of making the necessary changes. Currently, there is no provision for collective thinking, for the creation of a living "We the People" with the power to do anything.
Here's some good news: It's possible for a few of us to convene the missing "We the People" conversation, where ALL of us are invited to think together; and to facilitate this new conversation to be respectful and creative in a way that we all face the most important problems of today and co-create shared conclusions. The steps involved in doing this are contained in The Wise Democracy Project. Hopefully, you will investigate this exciting new option with curiosity and respond with ...
Many people mislabel our System as a "democracy" because its founding was amazingly democratic. That founding moment was "of, by and for the people," except of course, only white male property holders, were considered to be "the people." But still, this special moment invented the concept of "We the People," and the narrative that "We" ordained and established the U.S. Constitution. Later in 1789, once the Bill of Rights was passed, near unity was achieved among the people. Almost everyone was saying "yes, let's try this new system."
Today, the term "We the People" is used in a willy nilly fashion, as though any big gathering of people qualifies. But that's not it. It must be all of us engaged in a collective thinking process, reaching wise shared conclusions. Even when most all of us agree, like for instance, "No let's not trash the planet," that's not a "We the People." That's just lots of individuals "pursuing their individual happiness," thinking they all agree without any prospect of making the necessary changes. Currently, there is no provision for collective thinking, for the creation of a living "We the People" with the power to do anything.
Here's some good news: It's possible for a few of us to convene the missing "We the People" conversation, where ALL of us are invited to think together; and to facilitate this new conversation to be respectful and creative in a way that we all face the most important problems of today and co-create shared conclusions. The steps involved in doing this are contained in The Wise Democracy Project. Hopefully, you will investigate this exciting new option with curiosity and respond with ...
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Recognition: "Getting it" that this can work.
Excitement: "Yippie! Now we have a way out of this mess, a way to solve Monster Problems and establish a new System of Wise Democracy (i.e. "of, by and for the people" plus collective wisdom)." Resolve: The Wise Democracy Project MUST happen! How can I help? |
Below are some "Monster Problems" growing in the U.S.
- The threat of dictatorship, a worsening oligarchy, threats to voting rights, weaponized DOJ, the unraveling of public institutions, fake news, etc. (See "How we can save American democracy")
- Increasing polarization, media silos, separate versions of "truth," lack of shared vision;
- Radicalized people, conspiracy theories gaining traction, social media info-sphere, rage without evidence, people calling for violence, lack of listening;
- Pandemic mismanagement, government mandates, distrust of science, never-ending disease variants;
- L-shaped distribution of wealth and power, U.S. is an oligarchy, poverty, homelessness, oppressive school debt for young adults;
- Increased corruption, special interests dominating the public interest, legal bribery of politicians, evolving doors for executives;
- Poor collective thinking, partisan gridlock, avoiding the BIG issues, people afraid to look at the news, massive need for governmental reform;
- Declining trust in elections, the courts, governments and one another; losing the spirit of national community; loss of the American dream;
- Systemic racism, misogyny, caste-system prejudice, violence directed at minorities;
- Immigration policies that aren't working, generating fear;
- Destruction of the commons ... e.g. aquifers, forests, trust, spirit of community;
- Our system is destroying our people in many ways. It structures special interests to compete, where they dominate the public interest; a crisis of meaning where making money becomes the top priority for anyone who joins a corporation; a food system that undermines people's health and destroys soils; the encouragement of over-consumption, etc.
- .... and many more
Increasingly the cause for these Monster Problems is our System
Most people think in terms of there being only two possible Systems of governance: autocracy and democracy. At the Center for Wise Democracy we call them the "Triangle" and the "Box" Systems. The Triangle System is autocratic with a "Dear Leader" in charge, where loyalty and obedience to the Dear Leader are required. In the 18th Century the U.S. transitioned from the Triangle to the Box by replacing the King with a Social Contract, the U.S. Constitution. Now there is loyalty to this document, which supposedly sets up fair "rules of the game" with enough freedom so people can pursue their own happiness. This game-like design structures competition as the basis of governance, economics and culture.
The Box System can generate a measure of collective intelligence, but only if the competition it engenders is among people, branches of government, and organizations that are in-dependent. When they become inter-dependent, the win/win nature of this competition breaks down. It becomes unfair, yields results that are collectively stupid and generates "Monster Problems" like the ones listed above. In the 18th century when the Founders set this up citizens were independent. The people could "pursue happiness" and collectively things would work out. But today, no matter what improvements we make to the Constitutional Republic, the basic idea is wrong. We must add the missing "We the People" conversation. Then we are in a different System where collaboration is the ultimate value. This is the Circle System ... beyond both the Box and the Triangle.
Good news: There is a "Holution"
The Wise Democracy Project is an actionable 8-step strategy built upon a set of Social Innovations. It's a way to add the missing "We the People" conversation, basically providing a way all of us can step back periodically, face Monster Problems together respectfully, and creatively reach shared conclusions. Then a united "We the People" provides responsible leadership to government, the economy and the culture. This "We the People" conversation is ongoing, countering the current divisive political conversation in favor of collaboration. As this conversation gains ever more participants, it achieves breakthrough progress on Monster issues, builds collective intelligence and stops creating the Monster Problems. It's a way to restore and improve our Constitutional Republic, where "We the People" reclaim our rightful role as ultimate authority.
The Wise Democracy Project has no identifiable downside. Periodically, a few people are randomly selected; they give a speech and they go away.
The Wise Democracy Project is accessible. As long as freedom of speech and freedom to assemble remain available to us, we don't need anyone's permission to set this in motion. A few of us can facilitate all of us to become our best selves and to come together as a legitimate "We the People."
The Wise Democracy Project has immense benefits. At first, the process just creates a symbolic voice of the "Public Interest." As more people participate in the conversation this symbol grows in power, capable of providing leadership to legislators, philanthropies, NGO's, the media, the market, the culture, etc. Plus because this new conversation expresses clear unified view, it establishes a new set of motivations. Now we are aiming for shared goals and supporting one another in achieving them. Corporate profits might continue to be important but they will likely become secondary. The level of partisan battling and legalized bribery will be reduced as legislators will have greater freedom and interest in serving the Public Interest.
The Wise Democracy Project has no identifiable downside. Periodically, a few people are randomly selected; they give a speech and they go away.
The Wise Democracy Project is accessible. As long as freedom of speech and freedom to assemble remain available to us, we don't need anyone's permission to set this in motion. A few of us can facilitate all of us to become our best selves and to come together as a legitimate "We the People."
The Wise Democracy Project has immense benefits. At first, the process just creates a symbolic voice of the "Public Interest." As more people participate in the conversation this symbol grows in power, capable of providing leadership to legislators, philanthropies, NGO's, the media, the market, the culture, etc. Plus because this new conversation expresses clear unified view, it establishes a new set of motivations. Now we are aiming for shared goals and supporting one another in achieving them. Corporate profits might continue to be important but they will likely become secondary. The level of partisan battling and legalized bribery will be reduced as legislators will have greater freedom and interest in serving the Public Interest.
Video: "American democracy is collapsing: A BREAKTHROUGH is needed"
This talk was presented to the Fix Democracy First network just after the second election of Donald Trump. (45 min)
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The Wise Democracy Project can eliminate many Monster Problems
To describe all the ways this Wise Democracy Project will affect Monster Problems gets complex. Below are just a few of the Monsters and hints about what can happen.
- The collapse of America democracy and the unraveling of public institutions — the takeover of autocracy, fake news, a captured Supreme Court and Congress, foreign manipulation of elections, breakdown of the rule of law, threats to voting rights, weaponized DOJ, etc. ... The usual "solution approaches" ... e.g. "fighting" for democracy by holding placards on street corners with lots of people or filing court cases to enforce the rule-of-law are becoming irrelevant. These two approaches are poor forms of conversation. We need talk seriously and thoughtfully and respectfully about what's going on (i.e. co-determine the Truth), what We want (i.e.co-create our shared Vision) and what We are going to do (i.e. Come together on Strategy, the best way to go forward). See "How we can save Democracy"
- Increasing polarization, information silos, separate versions of "truth," no shared vision; ... The Wise Democracy Project facilitates more than just talking seriously. It's a new kind of public conversation where people listen to one another respectfully and co-determine "Truth", "Vision", and "Strategy" ... Just this heartfelt creative kind of conversation by itself, helps to break down polarization, information silos, polarization, blocking the truth, etc.
- Radicalized people, conspiracy theories, rage without evidence, calling for violence lack of listening ... There is no creative, collaborative thinking process in our System. There is just back and forth discussions, broadcast propaganda, expert analysis, small-scale dialogues and then voting, where individual judgments are added. Of course, these generate dysfunctional results because the minority views are outvoted. The missing conversation in our System is the missing "We the People" conversation: "One ongoing whole-nation choice-creating conversation." The Wise Democracy Project adds back this missing "We the People" conversation, turning diversity and emotions into assets rather than liabilities.
- Pandemics, excess government mandates, distrust of science, Covid variants ... Our System focuses on individual freedoms with little regard for the collective need. In a pandemic, for instance, "herd immunity" is needed but government mandates go against the basic premise of individual freedom. How might we resolve this? The Wise Democracy Project provides a way for the people to talk over this dilemma and work out a multi-layered plan for what's needed. "We the People" can choose what we want to do in a way that experts and governments can't. ... Our conclusions might include government monitoring, support for research, questions to science, etc.
- L-curve distribution of wealth and power, the U.S. is an oligarchy, poverty, homelessness ... Our current System is like the game of Monopoly: In the end one player wins everything and everyone else loses. What's missing is for the spirit of national collaboration and community to become more important in people's minds than "winning the competition." The Wise Democracy Project provides a way that can happen through voluntary shifts of motivation.
- Increasing corruption, special interests dominating the public interest, legalized bribing of politicians and judges ... There is little sense of the "Public Interest" in our current System. Instead we have set up a competition of Special Interests with the presumption that ultimately the "invisible hand" will somehow make things better for everyone. But the invisible hand doesn't work in an oligarchy. The Wise Democracy Project creates a clear expression of the Public Interest and a clear desire among all of us to realize our shared vision.
- Unraveling of public institutions —threatened autocracy, fake news, runaway Supreme Court rulings, foreign manipulation of elections, breakdown of the rule of law, threats to voting rights, captured agencies/revolving doors for executives, etc. ... The Wise Democracy Project establishes a new collective thinking capability and a new public, living entity, "We the People." We can then reshape our social contract, create a visionary leadership to public institutions with positive guidance, and generally establish trustworthy public institutions.
- Partisan gridlock, avoiding the BIG issues, politicians incapable of listening, threatened loss of democracy ... Quality leadership cannot come from within the partisan battle over incomplete solution strategies. Instead, we must transcend the partisan battle by enlisting the participation of all people in creatively solving the problems. This is a higher form of democracy, what we call "Wise Democracy." We face the Monster Problems one at a time, reach unity on what needs to happen and provide responsible direction to elected officials, the marketplace and the culture.
- Declining trust in government, elections, the courts and one another; loss of the spirit of community ... When the people face difficult problems and come together on what's needed, this builds trust. When "We the People" of the 21st century take responsibility for our System and its institutions, this builds trust as well. Now, in unity, we can start designing necessary Constitutional changes, e.g. adding the missing "Wise Democracy Amendment" to assure the continuing presence of "We the People".
- Systemic racism, mysogyny, prejudice, violence directed at minorities ... Our current System is rooted in "decision-making", which literally means "cutting away" ... i.e. This basis is a judging process that "cuts away" the minority people, the minority viewpoints, our feelings, etc. On the other hand a choice-creating conversation values minority voices and feelings. They are necessary to achieve creative shifts and breakthroughs. This Project is about breaking out of the normal "decision-making" mode for brief interludes of choice-creating.
- Destruction of the commons ... e.g. aquifers, forests, trust in government, spirit of community ... The Tragedy of the Commons happens because we are structured to be self-interested parties taking from the commons, with essentially no provision for the well-being of the whole. The Wise Democracy Project provides for us to restructure our System so we can responsibly manage the commons.
- Our system is destroying our people ... e.g. special interests dominate the public interest; there is a crisis of meaning for people; the pursuit of profits is a race to the bottom (e.g. our food system builds unhealthy bodies and destroys soils); over-consumption is encouraged ... Together we are all riding in an airplane that's heading toward a mountain. ... We are stuck in a System that is forcing overconsumption of the planet. Both government and the economy are corrupt in this. Increasingly people feel anxiety and desperation. However, the Wise Democracy Project offers a way that all of us can start thinking creatively about this mess and a way "We the People" can choose a path of "collective intelligence."
- etc.
We already have experience with this process at large scale!
This short (5 min) video (in English) describes one national Wisdom Council experiment in Germany. Note: German-speaking governments refer to the Wisdom Council as "Bürgerat" (i.e."Civic Council").
Additional resources
- Video Seminar (5-parts): "Essential Wisdom for Solving Society's Biggest Issues
- Video: ... Healing Polarization in Society (4min)
- Handout ... "What can we do to save American Democracy?"
- Chart: Seven strategies to achieve the "Ideal of Democracy" in America
- Book (2002) “Society’s Breakthrough! Releasing Essential Wisdom and Virtue in All the People” by Jim Rough
- Article: 'A Rebirth of 'We the People', Jim Rough, The Good Society, Penn State University Press, Volume 13, Number 2, 2004 pp 44-48