The unfortunate state of American democracy is well documented, as are a great many objectives for a new situation.
What continues to elude us is an orderly and focused implementation plan. Here I offer one for consideration.
One of the greatest obstacles to salvaging this American experiment in democracy is that there are not enough persons in positions of influence who see the problems, or affirm the solutions, or are willing to serve the real needs of their constituents rather than their own relatively narrow and regressive ideologies.
This obstacle can be overcome by correctly identifying the needs and wishes of the constituencies, and by attracting legislative representatives who affirm and work toward satisfying those needs and wishes.
The first requirement is an online polling platform which can dynamically identify both specific and general issues which are most important to the most participants.
The second requirement of course is a lot of active participants, while offering them encouragement that their opinions really do matter, that expressing their views will actually be registered and can actually be effective, and that apathy equates to passive compliance and deterioration of democracy.
The third is a multi-disciplined collaboration network to build and operate the platform, and to pursue the objectives identified therefrom.
The fourth is a new political party defined by hearing and serving the issues of the majority which can provide enough votes to put them into office.
With legislative support, the critical institutions of democracy can be strengthened, starting with public banking, independent academic leadership, critical media watchdogs, and regulatory oversight.
I almost tabled this vision for want of a sufficient user and development base, until I realized that the Jesuit network of higher education might be the perfect seed ground for planting this effort.
That thought is reinforced by considering that it would be appropriate not only for this purpose owing to their numbers, diversity, and academic interests; but also as an excellent focus for their students and academic programs.
It would be a chance for our independent institutions of higher learning to regain a more honored role as arbiters of valid fact, research, and development for the public commons.
Until we can see a way to move in this direction without starting within the Jesuit network, please share this idea with any you know therein, or for that matter, with anybody at all :)
Documents are shared .. on Google Drive
Thoughts are blogged at .. amplecogitation.blogspot.com
where you may leave your constructive comments, suggestions, and questions.
Thanks for your attentive consideration.