{"id":554,"date":"2020-06-02T09:06:45","date_gmt":"2020-06-02T09:06:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/north-carolina\/articles\/building-democracy-2-0-introduction\/"},"modified":"2020-06-02T09:06:45","modified_gmt":"2020-06-02T09:06:45","slug":"building-democracy-2-0-introduction","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/north-carolina\/articles\/building-democracy-2-0-introduction\/","title":{"rendered":"Building Democracy 2.0: Introduction"},"template":"","class_list":["post-554","article","type-article","status-publish","hentry","article_type-blog-post"],"acf":{"details":{"summary":"","featured_image":6078,"article_type":162,"authors":["{\"site_id\":\"68\",\"post_type\":\"person\",\"post_id\":555}"],"related_issues":[62,109,417],"related_work":false,"location":null},"sidebar":{"helper_enable_sidebar":false,"helper_media_contact":{"heading":"Media Contact","manually_enter_person":false,"person":null,"name":"","role":"","phone":"","email":""},"helper_links_downloads":{"heading":"Links & Downloads","links":null}},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_wysiwyg":{"content":"After running for state senate in a gerrymandered district in 2018, a friend and mentor, Gordon Smith, approached me about writing a book with him on the issue of gerrymandering.\u00a0 That conversation has taken me down a fascinating path.\u00a0 Over the past 12 months, I have read numerous court decisions on gerrymandering and studies on electoral systems.\u00a0 Those works led me to earlier accounts about the rise of democracy and political parties.\r\n\r\nDuring this same time, I have had a front-row seat on history-making court cases as a board member of Common Cause North Carolina.\u00a0 Rucho v. Common Cause NC went to the US Supreme Court in 2019 and rejected (for now) the legal argument that partisan gerrymandering violates the US Constitution.\u00a0 Shortly thereafter, a three-judge panel ruled in <a href=\"https:\/\/nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcommoncause.org%2Fnorth-carolina%2Fresource%2Fcommon-cause-v-lewis%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7CBWarner%40commoncause.org%7Ca2869cb80c7c4d5bcfc808d80672a1d0%7Cdb39e4b4de324cf9b66e9d02d8172178%7C0%7C0%7C637266436714857281&amp;sdata=nzmBhm%2Fbkr5OiNwV8y7dmN%2FaE37xbg56ckFDmnYdsfE%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>Common Cause NC v. Lewis<\/u> <\/a>that partisan gerrymandering does violate the North Carolina state constitution.\u00a0 That decision led to the redrawing of state legislative districts, including the one I ran in.\u00a0 It also caused a redraw of the US House districts in North Carolina.\u00a0 These cases will reverberate at election time in 2020 and when redistricting occurs in 2021 based on the decennial census.\r\n\r\nNorth Carolina has had more than 40 judicial interventions on redistricting plans since 1980 \u2013 more than any other state.\u00a0 \u201cFirst in Gerrymandering\u201d could replace \u201cFirst in Flight\u201d as the motto on the state\u2019s license plate.\u00a0 Of course, there is an alternative to perpetual litigation.\u00a0 Many states have adopted bipartisan redistricting reform.\u00a0 Such reform takes mapmaking out of the hands of politicians, makes the redistricting process transparent to the public, and allows for meaningful public input in the process.\u00a0 Common Cause and other groups continue to work for these reforms in North Carolina and other states.\r\n\r\nAs I dove into the issue of gerrymandering and redistricting reform, I soon realized that these challenges to American Democracy are symptomatic of larger structural issues with our electoral system, particularly in an age of social media and other new forms of communication.\u00a0 While redistricting reform remains vitally important, the afflictions of our political system require much deeper and more comprehensive attention.\r\n\r\nIt doesn\u2019t take a genius to know that our democracy is suffering.\u00a0 Hyper-partisanship and polarization have stymied action on nearly every front.\u00a0 It has caused many to give up hope or look to undemocratic ideas for salvation.\u00a0 A 2019 survey by Pew Research found that just 17% of Americans trust the federal government to do the right thing all or most of the time.\u00a0 In the early 1960s, this figure was nearly 80%.\u00a0 Faith in the federal government has steadily dropped under administrations led by both parties to arrive at the current spectacularly low percentage.\u00a0 We must ask ourselves a fundamental question:\u00a0 Is democracy still relevant, workable and worth sustaining in the 21st century?\r\n\r\nIt is easy to answer that question by saying \u201cof course.\u201d\u00a0 Many surveys, including one done in 2018 by the Democracy Project commissioned by the George W. Bush Institute and Penn Biden Center, conclude most Americans remain committed to the idea of democracy. \u00a0If we value democracy, however, we must recognize that its persistence rests squarely on the actions of citizens.\u00a0 Unfortunately, we lack a common understanding of what makes a democracy operate successfully -- what actions, particularly in today\u2019s world, give democracy life and strength.\r\n\r\nSo much of the discussion about democracy today devolves to tribalism.\u00a0 While decrying polarization and describing its harmful effects on democracy in great detail, nearly all pundits lay blame on a cast of partisan sources:\u00a0 talk radio, Russia, Fox News, bots, unlimited political spending, social media, political correctness, academia, Hollywood, and the liberal media.\u00a0 The list goes on.\u00a0 Despite the untold books, columns and podcasts on this topic, we feel more lost and powerless than ever.\r\n\r\nHelen Keller once said, \u201cThe only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.\u201d\u00a0 To have vision, you first must search for truth.\u00a0 That is the journey I have pursued.\u00a0 While the vision may still require work, glimpses of truth have appeared through perseverance.\r\n\r\nDue to work and other obligations, the book project with Gordon remains ongoing.\u00a0 But in lieu of a more complete work, I plan to post a series of essays under the moniker \u201cBuilding Democracy 2.0.\u201d\u00a0 I plan to share one every few weeks. \u00a0These essays will focus on five main topics related to today\u2019s challenges:\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>Democracy.\u00a0 What is it?\u00a0 How and why did it arise at the time it did?\u00a0 What conditions are necessary for its health?\u00a0 Why did it represent such an important step in human development?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Parties.\u00a0 How and why did the first political parties arise?\u00a0 What are they and how do they function?\u00a0 Are they necessary for a healthy democracy?\u00a0 If so, how can we reinvigorate them in the 21st century?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Electoral systems.\u00a0 What are the main types of democratic electoral systems?\u00a0 Which systems most closely match our democratic ideals?\u00a0 How do electoral systems impact elections, voter turnout, voter satisfaction and polarization?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Current threats to democracy.\u00a0 Why is democracy undergoing such strain?\u00a0 Why does American democracy suffer from extreme polarization?\u00a0 Can democracy be sustained or has it outlived its purpose?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Reform.\u00a0 If democracy is worth saving, which reforms can have a meaningful impact?\u00a0 Is gerrymandering an uncomfortable fact of our political system or can it be tamed?\u00a0 Does the electoral college have merit?\u00a0 If not, can it be reformed?\u00a0 How do voting systems exacerbate or reduce polarization?\u00a0 Can we make changes that improve participation in and satisfaction with our election process?<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nThis month marks the 50th anniversary of Common Cause, an organization committed to engaging citizens in the American experiment we know as democracy.\u00a0 The practices surrounding this experiment define us as a people:\u00a0 our enduring strength, our foibles and our efforts at improving society.\r\n\r\nThere are few moments in this nation\u2019s history more challenging and sobering than now.\u00a0 This is a time of the global pandemic.\u00a0 We confront a terrible scourge, taking so many lives and livelihoods.\u00a0 If that were not enough, the past few days have seen widespread civil unrest following the horrific death of George Floyd in police custody.\u00a0 Yet these moments in which humanity endures a searing and singular experience also can lead to fundamental change.\r\n\r\nWhat better time to take stock in our democracy than now?\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n\r\n<em>Mack Paul is a member of the state advisory board of Common Cause NC and a founding partner of Morningstar Law Group.<\/em>\r\n\r\nParts in this series:\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/north-carolina\/democracy-wire\/building-democracy-2-0-introduction\/\">Introduction: Building Democracy 2.0<\/a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/north-carolina\/democracy-wire\/building-democracy-2-0-what-is-democracy-and-why-is-it-important\/\">Part 1: What Is Democracy and Why Is It Important?<\/a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/north-carolina\/democracy-wire\/building-democracy-2-0-how-the-idea-of-freedom-makes-the-first-innovation-possible\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Part 2: How the Idea of Freedom Makes the First Innovation Possible<\/a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/north-carolina\/democracy-wire\/building-democracy-2-0-the-second-innovation-that-gave-rise-to-modern-democracy\/\">Part 3: The Second Innovation that Gave Rise to Modern Democracy<\/a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/north-carolina\/democracy-wire\/building-democracy-2-0-the-rise-and-function-of-political-parties-setting-the-record-straight\/\">Part 4: The Rise and Function of Political Parties \u2013 Setting the Record Straight<\/a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/north-carolina\/democracy-wire\/building-democracy-2-0-how-political-parties-turned-conflict-into-a-productive-force\/\">Part 5: How Political Parties Turned Conflict into a Productive Force<\/a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/north-carolina\/democracy-wire\/building-democracy-2-0-parties-and-the-challenge-of-voter-engagement\/\">Part 6: Parties and the Challenge of Voter Engagement<\/a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/north-carolina\/democracy-wire\/building-democracy-2-0-the-progressive-movement-and-the-decline-of-parties-in-america\/\">Part 7: The Progressive Movement and the Decline of Parties in America<\/a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/north-carolina\/democracy-wire\/building-democracy-2-0-rousseau-and-the-will-of-the-people\/\">Part 8: Rousseau and \u2018the Will of the People\u2019<\/a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/north-carolina\/democracy-wire\/building-democracy-2-0-the-dark-secret-of-majority-voting\/\">Part 9: The Dark Secret of Majority\u00a0Voting<\/a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/north-carolina\/democracy-wire\/building-democracy-2-0-the-promise-of-proportional-voting\/\">Part 10: The Promise of Proportional\u00a0Voting<\/a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/north-carolina\/democracy-wire\/building-democracy-2-0-majorities-minorities-and-innovation-in-electoral-design\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Part 11: Majorities, Minorities and Innovation in Electoral\u00a0Design<\/a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/north-carolina\/democracy-wire\/building-democracy-2-0-the-misdirected-attempts-at-electoral-reform-in-the-u-s\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Part 12: The Misdirected Attempts at Electoral Reform in\u00a0the\u00a0U.S.<\/a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/north-carolina\/democracy-wire\/building-democracy-2-0-the-uses-and-abuses-of-redistricting-in-american-democracy\/\">Part 13: Building Democracy 2.0: The Uses and Abuses of Redistricting in American Democracy<\/a>"}}]},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.6 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Building Democracy 2.0: Introduction - Common Cause North Carolina<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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