The 2002 book "Society's Breakthrough! Releasing Essential Wisdom and Virtue in All the People" presents a breakthrough strategy for transforming the System. It suggests an Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. But since then we've discovered that the Amendment is not essential, more like step 10 rather than step 1. This is because, we've discovered, the "magic sauce" for transforming "the System" lies not with an actual change to the System, to the Constitution. It lies more importantly with our ability to facilitate a legitimate, inclusive, empowered "We the People". And while our ability to do this would be GREATLY aided by enacting the "Wise Democracy Amendment" to the U.S. Constitution, shown below, More important is our ability to reliably establish "an ongoing, whole-system choice-creating conversation." ... And we've discovered, the magic sauce for that is "choice-creating".
The Wise Democracy Amendment
Note #1: It’s hard to find any risk to this proposed amendment. There is no coercion of any kind. It's just adding a new conversation to what already exists. And this new conversation only works if we all participate and reach unity. ... But this is not that hard to achieve. It just seems hard because our current system is based on competition. And political conversations within that system are about one side gaining the upper hand while the other side loses ground. ... But the Wisdom Council Process, and a Constitutional Amendment can really help with this, helps us step out of the system so we can come together around what's best for all.
Note: With enough money and media support, it's possible to start this process without an Amendment. One idea is to just begin and do it until everyone has enough experience with it to become empowered in the face of these big impossible-seeming problems. And to enjoy the new spirit of national community that arises when people feel empowered together. Ideally, this would be added to the U.S. Constitution quickly so most everyone starts getting involved and feeling this "We the People" breakthrough potential.
Benefits include:
The Wise Democracy Amendment provides a way to:
Note: People of the Austrian state of Vorarlberg have experimented with the Wisdom Council Process and contributed in many ways.
Video interview from 2010 about the Wise Democracy Amendment ... (8/27/10)
The Wise Democracy Amendment
- Section 1--Establish a national Wisdom Council Process: There shall be an ongoing series of national Wisdom Councils, at least three per year. Each Wisdom Council is comprised of ten to twenty-four citizens randomly selected from voter registration roles who gather for two to five days. They are presented with an issue of vital importance and are dynamically facilitated to create a unified perspective.
- Section 2 —Determining the issues. The issues may be determined and presented to each Wisdom Council in a number of ways. First in rotating fashion the executive branch and each political party will present issues to the Wisdom Councils. Also, citizens may gather signatures to qualify other issues for additional Wisdom Councils. Note: In any creative dynamic conversation people will grow in their understandings, and the original issue will likely evolve in steps, creating a story of progress that can be shared.
- Section 3 — Establishing a "Community Cafe". That is, all citizens are invited to come together in different venues to hear each successive Wisdom Council present its shared perspectives. And to carry on the conversation, hopefully in a similar spirit ... seeking what's best for all. Note: the report is not a set of recommendations to decision-makers. Rather it supports the continuing whole-system conversation. In the Community Cafe, the Wisdom Council presents 1) the shared perspective; 2) the story of how this perspective came to be; and 3) personal reflections from members of the Wisdom Council on their experience. Then it disbands, while the citizens take over. They visit with one another in face to face and online conversations, share their responses and build on the ideas. Afterwards, there is a brief register of the current level of whole-system resonance to the Wisdom Council perspectives.
- Section 4—Supporting the rise of "We the People": After the Community Cafe people are encouraged to continue the new public conversation, where unity is the ultimate aim. As much as possible people are helped to keep talking about shared perspective of the Wisdom Council, and to continue developing the ideas. Much of this conversation can continue online until the next Wisdom Council is randomly selected. To the extent people keep talking and reach unity this is a new system of democracy, where the people come together as "We the People" creatively address issues and provide responsible leadership to "decision-makers". It also provides elected leaders with the freedom to serve the "public interest" and to collaborate with their colleagues in doing so, rather than being forced into serving special interests.
- Section 5—Assuring the Essential Quality of Conversation: Each Wisdom Council must be facilitated in a way that assures "choice-creating," which is the essential quality of talking and thinking for the existence of a legitimate “We the People.” This quality is heartfelt, collaborative and creative where citizens seek “what's best for all”. Dynamic Facilitation reliably evokes choice-creating, and establishes the dynamic of "unity through diversity". The Wisdom Council Process reliably extends this creative, collaborative dynamic to the whole system ... especially if enacted as a Constitutional Amendment.
- Section 6—Wisdom Council Commission will manage the Wisdom Council Process. A rotating group of twelve former Wisdom Council members will be convened to provide capable oversight, a maximum of three from any one Wisdom Council. They will determine procedures by which the issues are given to each Wisdom Council, provide for capable Dynamic Facilitation and assure ongoing support to the new “We the People” conversation. The Wisdom Council Commission itself will be dynamically facilitated.
Note #1: It’s hard to find any risk to this proposed amendment. There is no coercion of any kind. It's just adding a new conversation to what already exists. And this new conversation only works if we all participate and reach unity. ... But this is not that hard to achieve. It just seems hard because our current system is based on competition. And political conversations within that system are about one side gaining the upper hand while the other side loses ground. ... But the Wisdom Council Process, and a Constitutional Amendment can really help with this, helps us step out of the system so we can come together around what's best for all.
Note: With enough money and media support, it's possible to start this process without an Amendment. One idea is to just begin and do it until everyone has enough experience with it to become empowered in the face of these big impossible-seeming problems. And to enjoy the new spirit of national community that arises when people feel empowered together. Ideally, this would be added to the U.S. Constitution quickly so most everyone starts getting involved and feeling this "We the People" breakthrough potential.
Benefits include:
The Wise Democracy Amendment provides a way to:
- Transform the quality of political conversation so that it becomes more inclusive, respectful, creative and consensual.
- Generate a shared vision and clear sense of the “public interest.”
- Generate new solutions to impossible-seeming public issues, along with the will to implement these solutions.
- Generate a spirit of national and global community.
- Facilitate a new system of ”Wise Democracy" where “We the People” provide responsible leadership to government, the courts, and society in general.
- Preserve and enhance individual freedoms, celebrate diversity, and support the expression of people’s individual creative gifts.
Note: People of the Austrian state of Vorarlberg have experimented with the Wisdom Council Process and contributed in many ways.
Video interview from 2010 about the Wise Democracy Amendment ... (8/27/10)