A Citizen’s Request For the Reset of Democracy

We came close to losing something that has been with us for centuries. It is so fundamental to our lives that we take it for granted. It is the American democracy and the dream of justice and liberty for all, and a government of, by, and for the people. When you almost lose something so precious, it is time to reflect and rethink. Why? Because it will happen again, with a different cast of characters, if we do not adapt and respond. The fact is: The time-honored system of American Democracy needs a reset.

I am not a politician, historian, or professional commentator. I am a citizen of the United States in my seventh decade. I have served in the Air Force, lived in seven states, traveled to 40 others, and have prospered from the opportunity available to me. I want the same for my grandchildren, and yours; and all those that live in this great country.  To do this, our Democracy not only needs to be preserved, it needs to be better.

I have spent my career creating workplaces that enable people to flourish. Given these experiences, I wish to offer several suggestions for how to renew, rekindle and safe-guard our democracy.  I offer these not as an expert (which I am not) or an advocate for one political party or the other; but as a citizen and user of democracy (which I am). 

1.     Call a Third Constitutional Convention. A lot can happen in 234 years---which is how long it has been since 1787. During that time, it took two years for a letter to reach Benjamin Franklin in Paris. I do not think the Founding Fathers could have anticipated the context, rapid rate of change, social mores, and global interdependence that exist today. So, we need to again ask ourselves: What are the core values that we cherish most?  What is the right balance between liberty and responsibility? Why do we have a representative and not a direct democracy? What are the challenges to the democratic way of life that are likely to arise (witness January 6th), and how do we address them? How can we act with greater collaboration, unity, and speed? How can we become a more perfect union for all, not just the few? How can we hold our leaders accountable for improving the nation, not just their own political power and influence? The answers to these questions may be no different now than before, but it is worth finding out.

2.     Open this Convention Up to All Americans. The Founding Fathers, as bright as many were, were just that: Fathers. There were not too many women, people of color and immigrants (save Alexander Hamilton) who contributed to these discussions. We are a better, more diverse country now. As we have seen from the pandemic, technology enables more people to participate and be heard. We can open up discussion about democracy beyond the smoke-filled rooms in Philadelphia two centuries ago. When people are asked to participate, new levels of trust emerge, to say nothing of improved ideas and more innovative approaches. The more people that participate, the more that people become “stewards and owners of our democracy.”.

3.     Enact Term Limits for Politicians and Judges. If term limits are good enough for the President, they should be good enough for any political and judicial office. Our government slows down when people are in power for extended periods of time. These leaders are usually more interested in hording power than improving the country and developing new leaders who can take us forward. Which businesses today are largely run by people in their 70s, 80s and even 90s? Is it any wonder that these people fall asleep while doing the business of the people? It is critically important for political leaders---just like business leaders—to develop (not restrict) the next generation of leaders. Term limits also foster greater accountability by giving citizens more choices and potential leaders to select. One recommendation for term limits: 12 years for Senators, House members, and Supreme Court Justices.

4.     Improve Voter Participation Rates. It is embarrassing that the oldest and most storied democracy has one of the worst voter turnout percentages in the world. The percentage in the 2020 Presidential election was 62% of the eligible population, which is up from the mid 50%s a decade earlier. That is encouraging, but only in a relative sense. Compare this figure to Sweden, Australia, Belgium, South Korea and Israel---all in the high 70 to 80% range; or even to the United States at the turn of the 20th Century at 73%. We essentially have a system in which 40% of the people do not participate, contribute, and be heard. That is a disservice to the very soul of Democracy. Political parties should stop trying to limit participation and figure out how to better serve all citizens, not just the few. Let’s set a national goal to make our democracy more open, inclusive, available, and, once more, the leading example for all to follow. 80% is a good number.

5.     Reimagine the Electoral College. While our Democracy has been a model for the world, one of its features has not been popular. The Electoral College remains our own concoction, and for good reason. Its roots lie in elitism and/or slavery. In terms of the former, the Founding Fathers were concerned that “ordinary Americans” might not be able to make the best choice for President. They may need someone “wiser” to make their decisions for them. All those frontiersmen (way out West in Tennessee) might need an interpreter. Come on, Man! The latter case is not about protecting small states over big states (as widely believed) but Southern states over their Northern brethren. The three fifths clause allowed slaves to be counted in the electorate and slave states, therefore, having a greater voice in elections. Little wonder that this anachronism and its blemished past have not been adopted by other countries. It is ours to resolve, and it needs to be addressed because it fundamentally limits the direct will of the people. The very essence of Democracy is one person, one vote, not someone else interpreting my vote. In the short term, this change may benefit one party more than another, but the worm turns; and a system flaw such as this weakens democracy for everyone. It is our Achilles Heel, unless equitably addressed. Some creative approaches are needed; one possibility: award electoral votes proportionally in each state, not on an all or nothing basis.

6.     Limit Time, Money, and Resources for Political Campaigns. This is a huge issue, and way beyond my paygrade and understanding. Political campaigns have run amok, take too long, and are out of synch with the principles of our democracy. In the 2020 election, more that $14 billion dollars was spent and that is double the previous election. Super PACs can raise and spend at will. The result is that only well-backed candidates participate, big money wins, the country is sidetracked while endless primaries go on, and not much seems to change because vested interests are so high. One possible solution: limit time, focus, and money for campaigns. Instead of eight or nine months, limit campaigns to three months. Conduct three to five regional, not state, primaries (sorry Iowa and New Hampshire). Limit political contributions to individuals and cap donations to some reasonable amount. Make political conventions virtual. Spend less money, open up participation, get it done faster, and remove antiquated practices.

7.     Reinstitute (some level of) National Service. Earlier I mentioned my time in the Air Force. It was only four years, but I remember it as one of the finest times of my life. Part of the issue with America today is that too many take the country for granted. They have not served and contributed to the greater good. They feel disconnected and just look for what the country can do for them. This one-way exchange is not healthy. Different ways of participation in National Service must be identified and encouraged. Military service is, of course, just one lever. Citizens can also be involved in enhancing our National Parks, assisting in the Health care crisis, working in food banks, and improving local communities. All government agencies could have a citizen’s program that enables people to participate once a month or once a quarter. It doesn’t take a monumental effort such as instituting a Civilian Corp or launching the Peace Corps to provide citizens the opportunity to do more. Get everyone involved, keep it lean, offer people choices, recognize them for their contributions.

These are my seven suggestions for resetting Democracy. These are not easy, but think of the cost of doing nothing. I do not want January 6th to be the next normal. Our choice is quite simple: Do we want to be citizens or subjects. The care and feeding of our democracy is way too important to be left to politicians.

Please add your own suggestions and ideas. Also please correct my historical perspectives if you disagree. But let’s keep the discussion going. Thanks for listening.