Saving Democracy: A Plan for Real Representation in America

By Kevin O'Leary

Book Overview

Saving Democracy presents a bold yet practical plan for reinventing American democracy for the twenty-first century. The book diagnoses contemporary political ills as symptoms of corruption in our large republic and develops a new understanding of representative democracy. Building on the ideas of James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, Saving Democracy shows how it is possible to combine the traditional town hall and the Internet to fashion a new theory of representative government that empowers citizens and bridges the enormous gap that now exists between the political elite and the average voter.

Under the author's plan, in each of the nation's 435 congressional districts a local assembly of 100 citizens, selected by lot, would meet to discuss the major domestic and international issues. The role of this assembly would be deliberative and advisory and its views would constitute a second, more sophisticated and informed measure of public opinion than traditional public opinion polls. The next step would be the establishment of the People's House, which would hold actual legislative power.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0804754985
• ISBN13: 9780804754989
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Stanford Law and Politics
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

An inspiring book

If you are ready to get off your butt and do something instead of just feeling angry and powerless as you watch the deterioration of American Democracy, reading this book is a good place to start. It inspired me take a first step in a direction that might actually make a difference. Realizing that it may take some time (if ever) for enough folks to organize to make an impact with O'Leary's ideas for an Assembly and People's House at a national or state level, I decided to investigate what might be possible at the local level here in Nashville, Tennessee. I bought several copies of Saving Democracy and handed them out to a few friends, heads of neighborhood associations, and the councilman who was just elected to serve my district in Metro Nashville Government. After reading the book, key people, including our Councilman, showed an interest in trying to develop at our local level. a `mini-model' of what O'Leary is suggesting nationally. Following O'Leary's ideas, our goal is to develop a well-informed, politically savvy `mini' Assembly, and `People's Council' devoted to political matters, ready to take action when local issues demand it. With the help of our council representative, and existing neighborhood associations (to whom we will report) we are now in the formative stages. Read the book. It just might inspire you to take a first step toward reclaiming a democracy in this country.

Expanding Democracy in the American Way

A spectacular book that actually shows us how to have a voice in a representational government. When the United Sates was born, we had 3 million people. We now have 300 million - which translates to 1 Congressman for 650,000 people. O'Leary spells out a rational method to make our democracy reach out to all of us and give us a chance to speak our minds. His ideas are radical only in that they promote concepts of the Founding Fathers in a 21st century way. It would truly make us a republican democracy.