"Selected" CC-MOOS Posts

Many different types of people and organizations are working on civic renewal and democratic renewal. They all share the same goals, but very different notions of how to get there. And those differences cause collisions, hard feelings, and impeded progress.

Projects pulling us together, others tearing us apart. This week's news and colleague stories include both.

Despite all its flaws and failings, democracy still offers better life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness than any other governance system. We explain why we think that--and why it matters.

Interesting and important readings for the week.

Thoughts on history, the United States' 250th 4th of July, and democracy ("the worst form of government, except all those other forms that have been tried"). Rather than killing it off, we should try to rejuvenate it.

Guy Burgess tells a personal story about a multi-year process to use democracy to save access to open space in Boulder, Colorado. This is one example of how courageous citizenship works.

Debilyn Molineaux talks about how bridging is insufficient to counter authoritariansim. We need to develop a positive vision of where we, personally, want to be in 2, 5, 10, or 20 years, and then figure out what kind of a community we need around us to make that happen.

Important, if sometimes depressing, reading this week. But there are some good news stories here!

Daniel Yudkin, Founding Director of the Beacon Project explains its origins in More in Common's Hidden Tribes report, explaining how the notion of potentialism might just be the "secret sauce" that gives people a sense of civic agency and hope, instead of the now so prevalent feelings of hopelessness and loneliness.

Liberal democracies need engaged, courageous citizens to function properly. Teaching children how to do that is an important job for parents, as schools and institutions are no longer teaching such attitudes and skills.