What will our system of representative democracy in this region look like at 2:17:16 PM on April 8, 2024, when Dayton, Ohio, will be at the very center of a total eclipse of the sun? In five years, will the system be stronger or weaker than it is today? How will we know? What is our vision of a twenty-first century system of representative democracy that works to its greatest potential to empower a government of, by and for the people? And what should we be doing in the next five years to help bring that vision to reality?
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead
Today, class, we will discuss your final project. This should be fun. This project challenges you to take a very big picture view of our system of representative democracy and to envision its best potential. You should stretch your thinking. In Ohio’s tenth congressional district:
- What does our system of representative democracy look like now?
- What would a system working at the level of its greatest potential look like?
- What are principles of system transformation and how should those principles be applied?
Your assignment is address these questions in a paper written from the viewpoint of over five years in the future — June 1, 2024 — The Final Report for Project 2024.
Your Assignment
Suppose early in 2019, a core group of concerned citizens — let’s call them patriots — give themselves an April 8, 2024 deadline to repair, strengthen and transform representative democracy in Ohio’s tenth congressional district. Suppose they outline a detailed five-year plan — “Project 2024” — showing specific goals for each of the five years. And, suppose that on April 8, 2024, as the total eclipse of the sun impacts Dayton, they weep with joy memorializing the event. They weep in happiness knowing that by working on Project 2024, they have helped change the world. As a member of the group, you are asked to write a first draft of the Final Report. The goal is for this report to explain the OH-10 transformation process. The goal is to generate enthusiasm for a vision for a change process that results in a twenty-first century system of representative democracy that works to empower a government of, by and for the people.
For extra credit, explain your understanding of the unfolding of Project 2024 in a script you write for two-act play — entitled, “The Final Report for Project 2024″