Would you sign on to a statement that begins like this?
Democracy is an unfinished project. It’s time we upgrade.
Last month, using feedback from nearly 1,500 survey responses, fifty leaders of the Millennial Generation (born circa 1980-1995) gathered in Washington, D.C., to hammer out the first draft of a Democracy 2.0 Declaration, writing:
We, the Millennial Generation, are uniquely positioned to call attention to today’s issues and shape the future based on the great legacy we have inherited. Our founding fathers intended for every generation to build, indeed to innovate, on the American experience. We realize that as young people we are expected to be the leaders of tomorrow, but we understand that as citizens we are called to be the leaders of today. We are compelled by the critical state of our present democracy to establish a new vision.
More below the flip ...
The Democracy 2.0 movement - a project of Mobilize.org, formerly Mobilizing America's Youth - is one of three developments that we reported on this week at DemocracySpace.org, the blog of the nonpartisan Study Circles Resource Center (soon to renamed Everyday Democracy). The others were a new report from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, or CIRCLE, showing that college students are more politically active and aware than their Gen-X predecessors but that they're also sick of partisan bickering, and the work of the November 5th Coalition, which vows to grill candidates on how "they plan to tap the talents of the whole society, instead of posing as superheroes who will solve our problems for us."
But the most audacious project we're seeing is the Democracy 2.0 Declaration, drafted in the spirit of Thomas Jefferson's call for periodic revolution in our nation. It continues:
In a world often damaged by conflict and intolerance, we must commit to develop common ground through equality and open mindedness.
In a world often damaged by social isolation and materialism, we must commit to community at the family, local, national and global levels.
In a world often damaged by instant gratification, we must commit to creating sustainable solutions.
In a world often damaged by apathy and disillusionment, we must commit to civic participation and inclusion of all voices.
The present state of our democracy impedes opportunity for real change. We must connect the specific issues failing our population with their underlying systemic causes.
Our government seems unable or unwilling to adequately address our broadest problems, including economic inequality, America’s role in the world, and the effect of money on the democratic process. But we must remember, our government is only as effective as the sum of its citizens. Low civic participation means the most disadvantaged people in society are neglected and we overlook many potential solutions to our problems.
Our generation is telling a different story. We are uniquely positioned to foster community engagement through social networks of all kinds. It is our responsibility to use information and technology to upgrade democracy, transform communication and advance political engagement and civic participation.
We are social networkers, we are multi-taskers, we are communicators and we are opinionated. The informality of our generation breaks down traditional barriers and opens doors for inclusiveness and equality. Most importantly, we are leaders in a society that yearns for leadership.
It’s our democracy, it’s time to act.
It's ambitious, self-aware stuff, and although this Generation Joneser is too old to actively take part in the process, I applaud the Millennials who are thinking big and seeking support and input. Their work reminds me of the quote I saw on a calendar for Election Day 2007: "Vote, but realize it is a small part of being a citizen and creating a truly democratic system."
The Democracy 2.0 Declaration will be finalized at Mobilize.org's Party for the Presidency, set for December 29-31 in Los Angeles.
Somehow, very few people have yet heard about the Democracy 2.0 petition. Let's try to change that. Click here to access the petition (and sign it if you agree with its statements), and here to learn more about the group on its Facebook page.
DemocracySpace is a nom de blog of Julie Fanselow, online organizer for the nonpartisan, nonprofit Study Circles Resource Center, soon to be renamed Everyday Democracy, and manager of its DemocracySpace.org blog. SCRC/Everyday Democracy helps communities address issues including racial equity, immigration, growth and sprawl, education, and others. Fanselow has also blogged at Daily Kos under the screen name Red State Rebel.