extreme democracy: future of democracy

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 – paul.schumann@glocalvantage.com, 512.302.1935

Taylor Willingham – taylor@austin-pacific.com

Jon Lebkowsky – jon.lebkowsky@gmail.com

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?