To "Save American Democracy" we must ...
- Stop the slide to Autocracy
- Restore and Improve our Constitutional Republic
- Transition to "Wise Democracy" [i.e. a system that is 'of, by and for the People' that is also collectively intelligent)
Today we are encountering unprecedented problems. The normal solutions available in our Constitutional Republic like street demonstrations, winning court cases, bridging partisan views, educating citizens in civics, assuring election integrity, experimenting with innovations at local levels, and influencing elected officials are necessary. But what's missing is a legitimate and powerful "We the People" to provide responsible leadership to all aspects of our System. "We the People" is all of us facing today's biggest problems, thinking together collectively, gaining clarity about the truth of what's going on and what we want, and co-developing viable strategies to get there. For this top happen requires an added public conversation, one that builds the spirit of community rather than undermining it.
The good new is ... this "We the People" conversation can be facilitated into being within 1 or 2 years. The Wise Democracy Project is 8 accessible steps by which this can happen. Actually, the news is even better. If you make your biggest wish for American Democracy, we think it's achievable: See the Monster Wish.
The idea for the Wise Democracy Project was first brought forth in the 2002 book "Society's Breakthrough! Releasing Essential Wisdom and Virtue in All the People" by Jim Rough. Back then we thought a U.S. Constitutional Amendment was needed as the first step. However, through experiments with the "Wisdom Council Process," which is the core of the Amendment, we've learned that we don't an Amendment or even need the support of elected officials to spark a legitimate wise "We the People" into existence. We can just do it.
What's needed is a small group of people who "get it" that this is needed and how to set it in motion. This is not obvious. See "Getting it ... that this must happen." We call this group “Just Us.” They act as conveners of the “We the People” conversation. Of course, we also need adequate funds to start the Wise Democracy Project.
This Project is fast acting because it doesn't need to "scale up" like a social movement. We start "at scale" with a symbol of "We the People," a random selection of just 12 to 16 citizens who address some Monster Issue and reach shared conclusions. Starting small at first, this symbol is still capable of voicing the Public Interest, a new entry into the usual battle of Special Interests. This new voice expresses a clear, coherent, unified perspective on the most controversial issues. And most all who hear basically say "Yes, of course." It’s a beginning statement of what is the truth? what do we want? and what actions are needed? While the rest of us can start adding our thoughts. Then in a month or so, a new randomly selected Wise Democracy Council meets in a different location to continue the conversation. We hope that an exponentially growing number of people join into this ONE "We the People" conversation.
Not everyone needs to understand the transformational aspects of this Project beforehand. The conversation itself is enjoyable and productive. We want monthly gatherings of people in different local areas to hear the Wise Democracy Council conclusions, what we call "Resonance Gatherings," and then to visit among themselves in a similar creative spirit. The quality of conversation we seek in these settings is choice-creating, which is different than the usual 4D’s —i.e. dialogue, debate, discussion & deliberation. With “choice-creating,” people can address a big Monster Issue and achieve wise unity.
As this new public conversation gains participants and demonstrates its effectiveness, a new being will arise: “We the People.” And it will assume its rightful place as the ultimate authority, above the President, Congress, Courts and Constitution. That's the dynamic, creative nature of a Real Democracy. Only, we call it "Wise Democracy," because this system is both "of, by and for the people” and wisdom producing.
The good new is ... this "We the People" conversation can be facilitated into being within 1 or 2 years. The Wise Democracy Project is 8 accessible steps by which this can happen. Actually, the news is even better. If you make your biggest wish for American Democracy, we think it's achievable: See the Monster Wish.
The idea for the Wise Democracy Project was first brought forth in the 2002 book "Society's Breakthrough! Releasing Essential Wisdom and Virtue in All the People" by Jim Rough. Back then we thought a U.S. Constitutional Amendment was needed as the first step. However, through experiments with the "Wisdom Council Process," which is the core of the Amendment, we've learned that we don't an Amendment or even need the support of elected officials to spark a legitimate wise "We the People" into existence. We can just do it.
What's needed is a small group of people who "get it" that this is needed and how to set it in motion. This is not obvious. See "Getting it ... that this must happen." We call this group “Just Us.” They act as conveners of the “We the People” conversation. Of course, we also need adequate funds to start the Wise Democracy Project.
This Project is fast acting because it doesn't need to "scale up" like a social movement. We start "at scale" with a symbol of "We the People," a random selection of just 12 to 16 citizens who address some Monster Issue and reach shared conclusions. Starting small at first, this symbol is still capable of voicing the Public Interest, a new entry into the usual battle of Special Interests. This new voice expresses a clear, coherent, unified perspective on the most controversial issues. And most all who hear basically say "Yes, of course." It’s a beginning statement of what is the truth? what do we want? and what actions are needed? While the rest of us can start adding our thoughts. Then in a month or so, a new randomly selected Wise Democracy Council meets in a different location to continue the conversation. We hope that an exponentially growing number of people join into this ONE "We the People" conversation.
Not everyone needs to understand the transformational aspects of this Project beforehand. The conversation itself is enjoyable and productive. We want monthly gatherings of people in different local areas to hear the Wise Democracy Council conclusions, what we call "Resonance Gatherings," and then to visit among themselves in a similar creative spirit. The quality of conversation we seek in these settings is choice-creating, which is different than the usual 4D’s —i.e. dialogue, debate, discussion & deliberation. With “choice-creating,” people can address a big Monster Issue and achieve wise unity.
As this new public conversation gains participants and demonstrates its effectiveness, a new being will arise: “We the People.” And it will assume its rightful place as the ultimate authority, above the President, Congress, Courts and Constitution. That's the dynamic, creative nature of a Real Democracy. Only, we call it "Wise Democracy," because this system is both "of, by and for the people” and wisdom producing.
"Democracy is not worked out at the polling-booths; it is the bringing forth of a genuine collective will ... Thus the essence of democracy is creating."
Mary Parker Follett in The New State (1918)
Mary Parker Follett in The New State (1918)
Handout on "How to save American Democracy"
This handout contains 12 slides in a front/back manner. It provides an overview of the Systemic nature of the problem and outlines how the Wise Democracy Project addresses it. ... If you print out and carry a few of the handouts you can help others when they start to panic and become fearful about the loss of American Democracy. Many of the 12 slides on the handout have QR codes identifying where to look more deeply about each point.
"Getting it" ... that this Project will work and it must happen
Our current System, a Constitutional Republic, no longer fits our Situation and this mismatch is causing today's Monster Problems, including the slide to autocracy. Because our System is competition-based when collaboration is needed, it does not deliver citizen empowerment or collective intelligence. The Wise Democracy Project adds the missing "We the People" conversation to what already exists. The need for this is obvious: Of course we need to add a collective thinking process by which we face our biggest problems creatively and collaboratively; reach shared conclusions about what's going on, what we want and what we need to do; and provide responsible leadership to elected officials, the economy, and the culture. But it's often difficult for people to see how this can work. Hopefully, you will explore this exciting new development and "get it" that this must happen!