Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Top Stories

A Democracy Reform Movement- If we can define it!

U.S. Constitution
Imagining constitutions
Douglas Sacha/Getty Images

This is the first of an ongoing series titled “Cross-partisan Visions.” It is in honor of co-publisher David Nevins' dear friend Rob Stein, who passed away in May 2022. Stein was an early architect of what he called the “Cross-Partisan vision.” He and Nevins spent countless hours thinking about how people from across traditional divides can imagine and, therefore, collaboratively implement strategies to realize their common interests and shared destinies and, in turn, build a new values-based constituency with a collective vision and a compelling new cultural and political voice.

Our Founding Fathers created a masterful document that has stood the test of time. The Constitution of the United States prescribes the principles and the rules defining the organization of our government and is the supreme law of the land.

Despite its magnificence, the Constitution does not fully address the particulars of the manner in which we, the people, are to utilize our founders' marvelous blueprint of self-governance. It offers the mechanics of government; it defines the roles of our executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Its core component, the Bill of Rights, delineates the liberties we all cherish as Americans.

However, the constitution does not consider the question of how ourleadership interacts with each other and with the citizenry.


Sign up for The Fulcrum newsletter

The Founding Fathers knew quite well that how our elected officials engaged with each other and the citizens would be a determining factor in the success of the great document that they had just written. As one reads the many written exchanges shared between our Founding Fathers, it becomes clear that they realized that at the very heart of democratic governance lie the rules of engagement for constructive political dialogue and debate, yet this was not clearly delineated in the Constitution.

Jefferson knew full well that democracy was born from discourse and discussion and that this discussion would be replete with differing perspectives and opinions. These brilliant men believed that ideological differences would ultimately lead to inquiry and inquiry to truth. In their writings to each other, they expressed the importance of our leaders practicing both civility and critical thinking for their Grand Experiment in Democracy to withstand the test of time.

This is what our Founding Fathers both wanted and feared as they pondered what the future would hold for the United States. Now, over 250 years later, their worst fears have come to fruition as the lack of civility and critical thinking permeates our legislative and executive branches.

Our founding fathers wanted a Democracy defined by a Constitution with a Bill of Rights for the citizenry. They were led by individuals who understood the importance of critical thinking and civility. They discussed what that meant; they considered defining it, but this major component of democratic governance was never fully addressed or defined. Perhaps, they simply ran out of time since a unified governing entity had to be formed quickly.

And that unfulfilled task, I believe, can and must be done now.

I believe We, the People, can create a document that reflects what our Founding Fathers hoped for and anticipated in terms of the nature, climate, and ethics of debate that would be employed by our elected leaders. The document I am proposing would be based on the Principles of Civil Discourse and Critical Thinking.

Let me be clear: I am not suggesting that this document be developed as an amendment to our Constitution. This document would not become the law of the land.

Instead, I am suggesting this document would be the basis of a platform for a bi- or multi-partisan political movement that would redefine what the American people would accept and expect from their elected officials. Amongst other things, the document would define the nature of an effective collaborative process that would facilitate and promote a far more solutions-based governing by Congress and by the executive branch, as well as what is needed to hold elected representatives accountable to these principles.

For the last 12 years, as chairman of the Board of the Bridge Alliance, I have worked with many people and organizations dedicated to the simple proposition that there are common-sense solutions to our national challenges and to the belief that our government should be capable of addressing those challenges successfully.

Yet despite the common bond of healthy self-governance that binds these organizations and people together, no defining constitution has been created. There is no clear mission or constitution for these many democratic reforms and bridging organizations that define common core principles.

If hundreds of organizations ever want to become a movement that builds a thriving and healthy democratic republic and fulfills its potential as a national social and political game-changer, a “Movement Constitution” needs to be agreed upon.

For true change to happen in our democratic republic, Americans must become involved and realize they have the power to bring about the change they desire, and to do so, they must have a common understanding of what is needed to effectuate this.

What might the components of that document be?

David Nevins is co-publisher of The Fulcrum and co-founder and board chairman of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund.

Read More

Democracy Donors: Let's Make Lemonade Out Of Lemons
people holding us a flag during daytime
Photo by Dyana Wing So on Unsplash

Democracy Donors: Let's Make Lemonade Out Of Lemons

The United States, once hailed as the world’s foremost pioneer of democracy, has lost its luster. In recent decades, complacency about its hallowed status has blunted the American establishment’s reckoning with our country’s democratic deterioration, fueled widespread disenchantment with the system, and paved the way for an authoritarian turn.

The first quarter of the 21st century has been marked by accelerating change, disquiet, and tumult. On the right and the left, among institutionalists and populists alike, people are signaling that the way democracy is practiced today isn’t meeting their needs. Nearly three-quarters of American voters don’t think their country is a good example of democratic governance.

Keep ReadingShow less
The Department of Education must stay: Knowledge is for all

A teacher helping students with schoolwork.

Getty Images, LWA/Dann Tardif

The Department of Education must stay: Knowledge is for all

The U.S. Congress recently confirmed Linda McMahon as Secretary of the Department of Education (DOE), on the same day that teacher unions across the country initiated “clap ins” at the start of the school day to applaud students and protest budget cuts President Donald Trump has made to the DOE.

With more than $1 billion in cuts of contracts, layoffs, and recent offers to pay DOE employees approximately $25,000 to quit, the efforts to dismantle the department, which sets policies, manages programs, and coordinates federal assistance for schooling is devastating.

Keep ReadingShow less
American Democracy Has Been Caught in the Partisan Crossfire

Red and blue strings knotted up.

Getty Images, MirageC

American Democracy Has Been Caught in the Partisan Crossfire

As democracy advocates and concerned citizens resist the erosion of norms and institutions during a second Trump administration, we must remember that our democracy is already in a state of crisis! This crisis has seen our Freedom House rating drop more than 10 points in the last decade. According to this measure of political rights and civil liberties, our peers were once countries like France and Germany, but now we find ourselves ranked just below Argentina and Mongolia.

Mass Partisanship and Elite Power-Seeking: A Dangerous Combination

Keep ReadingShow less
Just the Facts: Ukraine-Russia Ceasefire

Ukraine map and Russian and Ukrainian flags

Getty Images/chibosaigon

Just the Facts: Ukraine-Russia Ceasefire

The Fulcrum strives to approach news stories with an open mind and skepticism, striving to present our readers with a broad spectrum of viewpoints through diligent research and critical thinking. As best we can, remove personal bias from our reporting and seek a variety of perspectives in both our news gathering and selection of opinion pieces. However, before our readers can analyze varying viewpoints, they must have the facts.


What is the status of the March 11, 2025 Ukraine-Russia ceasefire proposal?

As of March 11, 2025, Ukraine has officially accepted a U.S.-proposed, immediate 30-day ceasefire in its conflict with Russia, contingent upon Russia's reciprocal agreement. The United States has lifted previous restrictions on military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine that were imposed eight days ago.

Keep ReadingShow less