The Wise Democracy Project

In the webpage Solving National Issues we identified a number of "Monster Problems" the U.S. is encountering, which are seemingly unsolvable, but which must be solved. These are issues for which "normal solutions," like demonstrating in the streets, lobbying elected officials, running for office, educating students in civics, raising consciousness, caring for your neighbors and convening dialogues, can help but they do not address the underlying predicament: our System no longer fits our Situation.

The Wise Democracy Project described below is a holistic solution to many "Monster Problems" at once. It's what we call a "Holution" because it remedies the underlying issue in a way that resolves "all" issues. It offers both a way to solve particular Monsters (See "Solving National Issues in America.") and a way to safely transform our underlying System from a Constitutional Republic to "Wise Democracy." (i.e. "of, by and for the people" plus collective wisdom.)

This Project will convene the missing national "We the People" conversation, inviting all the people into one ongoing choice-creating conversation. This is where we address Monster Problems together and arrive at shared understandings about what is really going on, what we want and what we need to do. As this symbolic "We the People" grows in power, it becomes the ultimate authority in a new kind of democratic system. Until now we mostly assumed true democracy was impossible to achieve, even though the Founding of the United States was a clear example that it is possible.

Wise Democracy Project Steps -- National

The 8 steps described here happen at the national level. Also needed are people organizing "Resonance Gatherings" at different localities.

Step 1 ... Gather "Just Us" and adequate resources

"Just Us" is a small group of people who are deeply concerned about our national situation, especially the loss of American Democracy. They have examined the Wise Democracy approach and excitedly recognize "This must happen!" Key in this is to appreciate how our System not longer fits our Situation and is causing our nation's biggest impossible-seeming Monster Problems. Of course, we all appreciate the value of "normal" within-system solutions like street demonstrations, lobbying, modeling the new paradigm, elevating personal consciousness, civic education, electing new leaders, implementing rank order voting, etc. But these normal solution-approaches are blocked from being effective because, without a legitimate "We the People" they can only address symptoms. They recognize that to really address Monster Issues, like the slide to autocracy, our System must be transformed. .... Step #1 is a benefit because this small group brings forward a new facilitative model of change, not top-down or bottom-up. It's a way that a few of us can facilitate all of us to work creatively together.

Step 2 ... Identify one Monster Problem to address

There are many urgent impossible-seeming national problems that are worsening, e.g. the bitter partisan battle, the mal-distribution of wealth, minority control over the majority, over consumption, meaningless jobs, etc. In this step we draw attention to one of these issues at a time. The issue doesn't need to be well-defined, just some "impossible-seeming mess" that most everyone cares about. A poll can pick the issue. Or elected officials can identify it. Or donors to this process can select their favorite. It almost doesn't matter because the Wisdom Council itself will reshape it into something they all care about.... Step #2 is a benefit because it focuses national attention on one vital issue and orients people toward cooperating to solve it.

Step 3 ... Randomly select 10 to 16 people

Here we identify 10 to 16 random people from the national population and bring them together as the first national Wisdom Council. Of course, achieving an accurate random selection is difficult, but we do the best we can. We ask a respected polling organization to provide us with, as much as possible, a legitimate random sample of people.. ... Step #3 is a benefit because it creates a living symbol of all-the-people where, like the first picture of earth from space, we can begin to appreciate who We are.

Step 4 ... Use Dynamic Facilitation to reliably evoke the spirit of "choice-creating" in each successive Wisdom Council

Each random group or "Wisdom Council" is gathered to meet for just a few days with someone skilled in Dynamic Facilitation. This is the magic sauce. It evokes a thinking process in the group that is choice-creating more than decision-making or problem-solving. This small diverse group achieves unity through shifts and breakthroughs and co-creates a shared story about how they achieved unity. It's a symbol of "We the People," just ordinary people, facing an impossible-seeming existential issue and co-determining a new clarity about the "real problem", the "truth" of what's going on, a vision of what we want, and a wise strategy we all can support. ... Step #4 is a benefit because it introduces and sets in motion the beginnings of a new kind of national conversation, a choice-creating conversation added to what already exists.

Step 5 ... Convene live "national community" meetings in different locations to hear the Wisdom Council present the story of its journey & its unified conclusions. Wisdom Council presentations rotate among different locations.

After the Wisdom Council reaches its conclusions the members walk onstage and present their story to a large live face to face audience, to the media, and to video cameras for later viewing. The members tell a little about themselves, their conclusions and how they reached their unified conclusions. They are not presenting a "recommendation" or "proposal", which is what ordinarily happens in this kind of mini-public gathering. Instead, this is a reflective sharing from the people to the people aimed at involving all of us in thinking together deeply. Generally, the audience recognizes these conclusions as commonsensical and the process as valuable. After the Wisdom Council members finish, "audience members" talk with one another. And in most experiments we've found they essentially say "Yes, I think so too! And they continue talking in a spirit similar to choice-creating." So here's a way to achieve "We the People" unity throughout the entire national community in quick fashion. Yes, there will be people who think differently but this process orients them toward building on the ideas rather than agreeing or disagreeing. This is the conversation required for a real democracy to exist. We the People need to take times out to talk and think together about the Big issues, reach conclusions and provide wise leadership to government, the economy and the culture. ... Step #5 is a benefit because it helps people come together around a particular story of who we are, what is going on, what we want, and what is needed to solve the chosen Monster problem.

Step 6 ... Structure Wisdom Councils to be ongoing every month or so, each time in a new location

The Wisdom Council Process convenes ONE ONGOING WHOLE-SYSTEM CHOICE-CREATING CONVERSATION about the most important issues the community faces. This generates a new level of "collective intelligence." And since the process is ongoing, where new randomly selected Wisdom Councils are gathered to address Monster issues each month or so, this process by itself restructures the System. It provides for real democracy to come into existence by assuring that each person can become involved and empowered in the ultimate "decision-making" conversation; a new ultimate authority, "We the People," will come into existence; and a way that We, all of us, can restructure our 18th century Constitution to make sense in the modern world. .... Step #6 is a benefit because it establishes a "We the People" conversation where individuals and society achieves new levels of intelligence and consciousness.

Step 7 ... Provide for this new "We the People" conversation to become ever more inclusive

The national Wisdom Council Process starts at scale. It doesn't need to "scale up" like a social movement. It just needs to "fill in" with ever more people joining in the conversation. And since it's the most meaningful conversation, like "finally there is a meaningful conversation about these issues in which my comments will be heard and incorporated." So the "filling in" process should happen exponentially as individuals, experts, leaders, media, celebrities, etc. increasingly participate in addressing the Monster Problems and co-creating ultimate conclusions. Especially when there is a crisis like a pandemic or the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a horrible new climate event, or the looming threat of a autocracy, people will want the ability to do something meaningful about it. This new whole-nation conversation generates effective collaborative actions among individuals, organizations, the market and government. Plus, people build a shared understanding of the truth of what's going on beyond the bubble of their mis-information. Everyone is invited. And everything is voluntary. ...Step #7 is a benefit because it provides a way for each person to share ownership of the problem and work with others to solve it

Step 8 ... Provide ways for people to learn about this holistic model of change, especially the social innovations: choice-creating, Dynamic Facilitation, and the Wisdom Council Process.

The benefits projected for The Wise Democracy Project can seem over-the-top, almost magical. Fortunately, we don't need to sell these benefits to many people ahead of time. With adequate resources we (just us) can convene the Project in a way that they will choose to join the conversation and experience the process and benefits for themselves. Then later, we can help people understand why this is working and how this added conversation achieves miraculous-seeming results. For instance, people may want to learn the distinction between "decision-making" and "choice-creating." And between different kinds of democratic process. Or to understand the difference between Citizens Assemblies and the Wisdom Council Process. ... Step #8 is a benefit because it can help people feel a new level of empowerment in their lives, even in the face of seemingly impossible societal crises

Arising from these 8-steps will be a legitimate, powerful new actor, "We the People," that is likely to implement this 9th step.

Step 9 ... Amend the U.S. Constitution to assure official continuance of the national Wisdom Council Process.

Often when Wisdom Councils report their conclusions, they will emphatically state "this process needs to keep happening." So it is likely that national Wisdom Councils will speak in this way and direct the implementation of something like this: Wise-Democracy Amendment.

Three presentations on the Wise Democracy Project to the organization: "Fix Democracy First"

#1 “American Democracy is Collapsing: We Need a Breakthrough” 11/13/24 (45 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Dh44Q4Cbpk&t=9s
#2 "The Wise Democracy Project: A Rebirth of We the People" (with Zachary Weaver) —Oct 1, 2025 (57 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2WqW907zRI&t=1s
#3 "How we can solve America’s biggest problems together" 2/25/26 (52 min)
https://youtu.be/99v0GvDE5nw?si=bFTw8YPbYHL99xOy&t=1s

See how The Wise Democracy Project might affect the Monster Problems described earlier

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 not enough. Basically, these are within-system forms of "collective conversation," inadequate for a modern society. We need to start talking seriously, 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 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.

Also note

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 yields IMMENSE benefits First, it's a way to address each Monster Issue with collective intelligence. Second, it's a way to evolve a new System into place (i.e. the Circle) by adding the missing collective thinking process. The Project starts "at scale" with ever more people "filling in" (i.e. no need to "scale up). Everything changes as an all-powerful "We the People" provide responsible leadership to legislators, philanthropies, NGO's, the media, the market, the culture, etc. Plus the process facilitates new motivations for people because we are all aiming for shared goals, and supporting one another in achieving them. Obviously, the level of partisan battling and legalized bribery will be reduced as elected officials will finally be able to serve the Public Interest.

How can such a simple Project achieve these Immense Benefits?

The benefits of the "Wise Democracy Project" are so over-the-top and the risks so low that the whole idea can seem utopian or unachievable. But this is real. If you don't "get it" please keep exploring.

Hopefully you are having this reaction...

Excitement: "This is what we've been looking for. Now we have a way out of this mess." ... and after some study ...
Resolve: "This must happen! ... How can I help?"