extreme democracy: future of democracy
DESCRIPTION
This presentation was session 12 in a 12 part webinar series on the book Extreme Democracy. Extreme democracy is a political philosophy of the information era that puts people in charge of the entire political process. It suggests a deliberative process that places total confidence in the people, opening the policy-making process to many centers of power through deeply networked coalitions that can be organized around local, national and international issues. This seminar covered Future of Democracy: A discussion among the participantsTRANSCRIPT
A Book & Concepts Discussion SeriesPaul Schumann – CenTexWFSTaylor Willingham – Texas ForumsJon Lebkowsky – Extreme Democracy
How? The book as a guide:12 online interactive discussions Discussion Guide (
http://www.texasforums.org/documents/extremedemocracysyllabus.pdf)
Extreme Democracy blog (www.extremedemocracy.com) Networking (www.attendr.com/extremedemocracy) Texas Forums blog (http://texasforums.wordpress.com) Survey (
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=wSd6z99tHdPwJH_2fISs9Kvg_3d_3d)
Yahoo Group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/extdemo)
Contact
Paul Schumann – [email protected], 512.302.1935
Taylor Willingham – [email protected]
Jon Lebkowsky – [email protected]
Future of Democracy Survey
Results (http://www.glocalvantage.com/ExtDemo/SWOTSurveyResults.pdf)
Additional Materials (videos) Bill Moyers Interview of Grace Lee Boggs (
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/08312007/watch2.html)
Did You Know? (http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/2006/08/did-you-know.html)
EPIC (http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/epic)
Giving
http://giving.clintonfoundation.org/about
http://www.milkandcookies.com/link/67285/detail/
Survey Results: Present Strengths
The social capital of American politics
Entrepreneurial ideal Separation of church
and state Separation of federal,
state and local policy making
Checks and balances of three branches
Diversity Grassroots
organizations Riches of the country Democratic ideals Power of the Internet
Weaknesses Legalized bribery (lobbyists) Polarization Diversity Career politicians Slush fund Media consolidation Lack of accountability at the
top Widening social divide Voter apathy Administrations that don’t
value people Addiction to winning Addiction to power Corporate oriented media
Survey Results: Future Opportunities
1:1 house of congress Dissolution of the two parry
system Reform of the American
government Reform of the constitution Big broadband & citizen
journalists Young & idealists activists Not make money & power
#1 priority Peer-to-peer networking Grassroots movement for
integrity in public life Demand for sustainability
oriented politics
Threats Evil moneybags Corporate and elite access
to capital Media consolidation Increasing reliance on IT
without adequate safeguards
Oppression of the common voice
Voter suppression Corporate oriented mass
media
Albert Einstein “America is incomparably less endangered by
its own communists than by the hysterical hunt for the few communists who are here.”
“No senatorial committee has as yet felt compelled to tackle the task of combating…the dangers that threaten the inner security of the uncritical or intimidated citizen.”
“I believe that older people who have scarcely anything to lose ought to be willing to speak out on behalf of those who are young and are subject to much greater restraint.”
Future of Democracy
Self righting Diversity Tolerance Lack of presence
What’s Next?