learning to ask "why not?"

Building a 100% Democracy starts with the right mindset

Dear Friends,

Last week, EJ Dionne and Miles Rapoport came to Baltimore to kick off the 100% Democracy Celebration with two talks about their provocative new book 100% Democracy: The Case for Universal Voting.

It was such a joy!

During both of their talks in Baltimore, EJ and Miles said something that stuck with me about their goal in writing this remarkable little book about a bold idea for our democracy. EJ and Miles said that their goal in writing 100% Democracy was simply to prompt us all to think about universal civic duty voting and ask ourselves “why not?”

Baltimoreans asking “Why Not?” during the legendary 1989 Orioles season

“Why not?”

It’s such a simple question with such powerful possibilities whether you support universal civic duty voting or not. The barriers to full political participation in the United States are well known! These barriers are taking up an awful lot of space in our heads.

That’s a shame. The United States is not only full of barriers to full participation. The United States is also full of opportunities to advance bold ideas to achieve full participation - right now. We can change policies at the state and local level. We can mobilize organizations in civil society - organizations like the healthcare providers and non-profits and universities and businesses served by our 100% Democracy Co-hosts - to do the things in their power to include everyone they reach in our democracy. We should do these things! Now! Why not?

Hope is belief in the plausibility of the possible as opposed to the necessity of the probable. And that hope is what I love about the spirit Miles and EJ brought to this book and their visit to Baltimore last week. They modeled the emotional strength we all need to look at a moment in history where things look grim for our democracy and still find ways to think about and work towards the plausibility of the possible.

I’m excited carry this joyful and hopeful spirit forward with all of you throughout the rest of the 100% Democracy Celebration! The 100% Democracy Research and Design symposium the week of April 25 is a space for *you* to share your boldest idea to include everyone our democracy. There will be opportunities to workshop your ideas in a joyful and supportive environment with an incredible community of 100% Democracy co-hosts all bringing that hopeful “why not?!?!” spirit to their work every day! Just hit reply to this newsletter if you want to get involved.

And as you all share your bold ideas at the symposium, I’ll be continuing to use this newsletter as a platform to write about the bold ideas for our democracy bubbling up from the 100% Democracy Celebration. I hope these ideas spark something in you!

This is going to be so much fun! Let’s go build a 100% Democracy together.

Best,

Sam