This is the book cover that ChatGPT designed — the book title that it suggested.

Every four years, Ohio law requires political parties to hold elections and “reorganize.” The 2026 MCDP Reorganization Meeting will be held in June. Leaders will be chosen and a new Montgomery County Democratic Party Constitution ratified. Democrats who care about the future of the Democratic Party are urged to participate. You can help determine the path forward for the party. The deadline to register is February 4.

Today is January 6 — a date that will live in infamy. We are constantly reminded that our republic is in crisis. The hard truth is that the only way to push back against Trump is to take away one of his votes in the US House. Flipping this congressional district, OH-10, of course, will not be easy. Our Republican congressman, Mike Turner, has been consistently re-elected since 2002.

This sounds impossible, but I believe the big goal of Reorganization must be to find a feasible plan to flip OH-10, and to agree to use the resources of the party to make the plan work. The good news is that of the ten Republican controlled districts in Ohio, OH-10 is rated among the three most competitive. There are many more Democratic Party leaning voters in this district than in most districts — Jim Jordan’s, for example.

Turner maintains his hold not because he has been such a wonderful representative. He stays in power because of the polarization of the electorate into R v D hostile groups. On the partisan battle field, the Democratic candidate is disadvantaged — doomed by the “D” next to his or her name. To flip this congressional district the party needs to re-brand itself so that more and more voters are attracted to what the party stand for. As it is now, the party has been branded by those who hate us. 

The brand the party should seek to build, I believe, should respond to the biggest issue of our time —  the wretched state of our democracy. Without intervention, our republic is headed for destruction. We are moving quickly to become an authoritarian state and the coming destruction of our republic concerns not only Democrats, it troubles every citizen who has any sense.

Right now, the unspoken mission of the Democratic Party is simply to win elections — feeding the R v D polarization that dooms Democratic candidates. I’m proposing that coming out of Reorganization there should be agreement and a resolution that the mission of the Democratic Party is to “advance participatory democracy.”

This is the title I started with. I’ve got to admit that the title “Reorganize To Win” that ChatGPT suggested is probably a better title.

Focusing resources to advance “participatory democracy,” I believe is key to victory. Here is the simple fact: if democracy in OH-10 was strong, citizens would be well-informed and they would not tolerate Turner’s anti-democracy style of representation — no town halls, no dialogue with the rank-and-file, no transparency. They would demand change.

These two facts then — that democracy is the biggest issue and, that a strong democracy would reject Turner — is the foundation for a long-term plan to retire Turner that I am proposing.

“Participatory democracy” is loosely defined as the empowerment of rank-and-file citizens to meaningfully participate. Democratic candidates should run on “participatory democracy” platforms spelling out, when elected, how rank-and-file citizens will be empowered. For example, a candidate for congress might show a plan for weekly on-line town hall meetings inviting input and participation, might show a plan for accountability, etc. 

The goal for the party to be branded, “the participatory democracy party” was established in the Preamble of the MCDP Constitution in the 2018 Reorganization:

“We the Representatives of the Democrats living in Montgomery County — in order to form a strong party organization that empowers representative democracy within our party and throughout the county —do establish the Montgomery County Democratic Party Constitution.”

The Preamble, affirmed in 2022, currently uses the term “representative democracy.” I’m proposing the new Constitution change this to “participatory democracy.” 

This is the title I chose for this article. “reorganize to WIN” still seems a better title

One big change that is proposed, a change that would make the MCDP unique in the Democratic Party world, is to empower rank-and-file Democrats to directly participate in the election of the MCDP officers. This would be a big breakthrough and good example for the whole Democratic Party, to change the MCDP Constitution so that at future Reorganizations the MCDP leadership will be directly elected by the MCDP membership. (Currently, MCDP leaders are chosen by the Central Committee.)

The proposal is to schedule the next Reorganization in two years, rather than four, as provided by state law, and spend the next two years building up the MCDP membership to at least 5% of the 42,000 Democrats registered in this county. The long-term vision for victory is that 2100 Democrats will not just be names in a drawer constantly being dunned for more contributions, but that these 2100 will be meaningfully and regularly engaged in advancing participatory democracy in their own jurisdictions.

Wow. I know this sounds like a dream — that somehow hundreds and thousands of rank-and-file Democrats will become engaged, but, I truly believe that the crisis of our times is motivating Democrats. What is needed is a vision and a plan, the opportunity to be part of a movement doing something meaningful. The idea is to implement a “participatory democracy” strategy in 2026 and to use the next two years to build a participatory democracy infrastructure throughout the 32 jurisdictions in OH-10.

To be clear, the motive to make “participatory democracy” the mission of the MCDP is to win elections. The proposed mission for the MCDP can be compared to an automobile company with a mission of making quality cars at low prices. The auto company makes money by having a positive brand that attracts customer and by producing cars that customers like. The Democratic Party can win elections by having a positive brand and by producing candidates that the voters like — candidates “of the people” committed to empowering rank-and-file citizens to meaningfully participate. 

The big thing to realize is that the Democratic Party by itself, however hard it tries, will not be able to flip OH-10. We win this district by rank-and-file Democrats doing the hard work of building a non-partisan infrastructure that at present does not exist. To envision victory in OH-10 is to envision a very different strategy than the failing strategies of the last 24 years. The strategy I’m proposing if for Democrats to lead a “for-democracy” grassroots movement that is non-partisan, educational and community building. The winning Democratic candidate, I believe, is one who will emerge from leadership of a non-partisan participatory democracy movement. 

Wow. There is a lot to think through. The devil is in the details. I am determine to put these ideas together as best I can in a little book whose title I keep changing.

The goal is to develop dialogue among Democrats who might attend and vote at Reorganization. To make the big changes in the MCDP organization necessary to flip OH-10 will require building consensus long before the June meeting. Please contact me if you’d like to discuss the ideas in this article.

Sincerely,   Mike Bock.    mcbock@daytonos.com

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I was elected to the Central Committee the first time in 2006 — motivated by a surprise call from my old social studies teacher, David Greismeyer, urging me to become involved with the local party. (I graduated from Northridge High School in 1965.) I was then elected in 2010, 2018, and 2022. In 2007 I started writing on DaytonOS and this web-site has a good search function. Searching “MCDP” or “democracy” or “education” brings up multiple articles that will show what has been on my mind the last twenty years.

I’ve been wonderfully consistent in expressing some views. This is from my very first post in 2007: The Ascending Issue In Our Democracy Is Democracy Itself

“… increasingly the electorate is disgusted with a political process that, time and again, fails to advance the public good. The irony of our effort to build democracy in Iraq is the fact that our own democracy is barely functioning and is in need of a building effort itself. A consensus view is growing that ours is a very weak democracy and that our government is a far cry from one that is “of the people, for the people.” The ascending issue in our democracy, in my judgment, is democracy itself. …

I would like to think that the grassroots, ordinary citizens, will demand more of their political parties, and will reward at the voting booth the political party that most thoroughly empowers citizens to meaningfully participate in their own democracy. The idea of democracy, itself, I believe, will increasingly drive our politics, and increasingly the idea of democracy will be the benchmark used for evaluating the actions and the merit of political parties.”

This June will be the quadrennial MCDP Reorganization Meeting. By a majority vote, leaders will be elected and a new MCDP Constitution will be ratified.  The context of this meeting will be the reality that our democracy is in deep trouble and the best way to push back against Trump is at the ballot box. The big question Reorganization must answer: What can the MCDP do to make flipping this district, OH-10, more likely?

Deadline is February 4 to register to be on ballot to serve on the MCDP Central Committee and to be a voting delegate at the MCDP Reorganization Meeting in June. The only requirement is to be a Democrat registered in Montgomery County. Just contact the Board of Elections. Consider stepping up and getting engaged in remaking our party.

Our Republican incumbent, Mike Turner, has won every election since 2002, but, OH-10 is rated one of the three most competitive of the ten districts now controlled by Republicans. If Democrats are to flip any Republican districts, OH-10 has a much better shot than most Republican districts. I’m proposing a two-year plan.

I’m putting together my proposed changes to the MCDP Constitution in a little book, to be posted on line,  showing these changes as part of a two-year plan to flip this congressional district. This book cover is a bit much. It was created by ChatGPT.

Most Democrats agree that the party needs big changes. This is from an NPR report: “Polling shows voters have historically negative views about Democrats in Congress and the overall brand of the party. But a sizable share of the dissatisfaction comes from people who consider themselves Democrats, favor Democratic policies and ultimately will end up voting for the Democratic candidate.” The wonderful opportunity is that the big changes needed in the Democratic Party can start here, at the county level.

Though unstated as such, the current mission of the Democratic Party is to elect Democrats. This sounds reasonable but, as a mission, this is very faulty. Imagine a car company saying that its mission is to make a profit. No, a car company makes money by accomplishing its mission of making a quality automobile at a low price.

The mission of the Democratic Party, I believe, should be the advancement of participatory democracy. The stronger our democracy, the more likely the election of Democrats will be, and, the more the party stands for empowering the rank and file, the more it will attract votes for its candidates. 

To flip this congressional district, I believe, will require building a non-partisan civic infrastructure that at present does not exist, one that will engage hundreds and thousands of rank-and-file Democrats not now engaged. I’m proposing that the MCDP launch a two year program to prepare for the 2028 elections. During this time, the goal will be for MCDP members to construct non-partisan civic communities in all of the local jurisdictions in the county.

The Democratic Party should be driven by a vision of the future worth working for. A new MCDP Constitution will show a vision of that future and focus on building that future.

The big crisis of our time demands a big solution. My goal is to write a draft of a 21st century MCDP Constitution and to work with fellow Democrats to hammer out the details that can be widely agreed to. The goal will be to produce a Constitution proposal that will have overwhelming support by the delegates at the June Reorganization Meeting.

The letter below, revised, I distributed at the MCDP December meeting / Christmas Party indicating the changes in the MCDP Constitution that I am proposing.  There is a lot to explain and I’m working on writing a small book to be posted on line. I’ve instructed ChatGPT to produce book covers for possible titles.  

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Dear Friend — Merry Christmas !

We are living in the most consequential time in human history. … More than at any other time, the Democratic Party must step up and provide leadership. We must focus on the big picture. 

We are on the verge of autocracy and the dogs of greed and hate are no longer in the wings. They’re constantly revealing who they are — never with more clarity than in the audacious effort to suddenly cancel Jimmy Kimmel.

Our democracy is failing and the big danger is that the amazing power of artificial intelligence will be used to clinch authoritarian control. I believe we have a short time to save our democracy — two elections, 2026 and 2028 — we must get our house in order.

My goal is to write a MCDP Constitution proposal so that it defines the MCDP as the total membership of the MCDP and empowers MCDP members to directly choose MCDP leadership, rather than being chosen by the Central Committee. Yes, the ORC designates the Central Committee as the “controlling committee,” but the ODP Constitution empowers the ODP Central Committee to cede its authority, part of its authority, to a larger group, so the MCDP should be permitted to copy that practice. 

I’m hoping the 2026 Reorganization will make decisions and approve a new MCDP Constitution that loudly will broadcast the message that the Democratic Party, the community of rank-and-file Democrats, is serious about making our democracy strong and that the MCDP is launching a two-year campaign to earn the brand — “the participatory democracy party.” The Constitution, then, will spell out:

1. The next Reorganization will be in 2028. (As permitted by ORC.)
2. The MCDP will be defined as the community of rank-and-file MCDP members and the new MCDP Constitution will show how this community will be empowered to participate in the work of the Central Committee.
3. The total membership of the MCDP will be empowered to vote to elect MCDP officers in an on-line / in-person MCDP Convention.
4. The elected MCDP officers also will serve in the same offices for the Central Committee, with the approval of the Central Committee.
5. The Constitution will endorse a future system of participatory democracy in Montgomery County, and throughout OH-10, where non-partisan communities will dominate politics. 
6. The Constitution will encourage MCDP members to fully engage in building, leading and participating in these civic communities. 
7. One purpose of these non-partisan communities will be the preparation and development of civic leaders who will emerge as candidates for the Democratic Party.
8. The MCDP Constitution will show examples of “Participatory Democracy Platforms” that the Party will recommend for use by Democratic Party candidates. 
9. The MCDP Constitution will implore the Republican Party, the MCRP, to join the “participatory democracy” movement and copy the MCDP Constitution.

I know this is very very ambitious. It is the urgency of our time that dares us to think big, and I’m doing my best — a “participatory democracy” movement, rank-and-file Democrats building non-partisan civic groups, a Democratic candidate emerging from a non-partisan movement, and, the cumulative result: flipping OH-10 in 2028.  I am preparing a paper, a little book, that develops these ideas. I’d love your input. Contact me.

Sincerely,

Mike Bock           mcbock@daytonos.com   

I’m proud that my neighbor, Bryan Suddith, is seeking to be elected the mayor of Kettering. I’ve told him that, of the 41 precincts in Kettering, my goal is to help him to get his highest percentage in our precinct, Kettering 4-K. I’ve distributed flyers throughout the precinct advertising that this Saturday at 4:00 PM in front of Bryan’s house at 609 Schuyler will be a neighborhood gathering to greet Bryan and Melissa and participate in Q / A and discussion. The flyer emphasizes, Bring a Lawn Chair.

Next week, my focus will be to visit with infrequent voters and unaffiliated voters registered in this precinct. My pitch is simple — “Bryan is a great guy, talented, a history of service, a member of Kettering Council, endorsed by the retiring mayor, Peggy Lehner, etc. — and, HE IS OUR NEIGHBOR. Let’s help our neighbor get elected as our mayor.”

Unknown to me, the League of Women Voters forum for Kettering mayor scheduled at Christ Methodist Church was cancelled last night. As it turned out, Bob Scott, the other candidate seeking to be elected mayor, a week earlier had informed the League that he would be unavailable. Anyway, I enjoyed the forum for the Kettering City Council candidates and the forum for the Centerville School Board candidates.  

Below is part of the e-mail I sent to Bryan in anticipation of the forum: 

Here is a question:

“Mr. Suddith, what is your vision for the future of Kettering? How can that dream be actualized?”

The context of all conversations about the future is the astonishing reality that we are on the verge of the arrival of super intelligence that far exceeds that of humans. Ray Kurzweil, since 2005, has predicted that the arrival of the Singularity will be in 2045, but with the enormous sums of money being spent, many experts now are predicting AI super-intelligence will arrive much sooner. It truly is beyond the capacity of a human mind to conceive of what these machines might do — great good, unlimited material abundance and economic liberty and fairness for all, or great harm, painful totalitarian control and, even, human extinction.

Amazon just reported that in the next few years, it will fill 600,000 jobs with robots. I fear massive unemployment soon will lead to a time of great social turmoil. Many citizens already have given up on a system of democracy that has let them down and I fear this trend will grow.

The future of Kettering is tied to the future of America and, in fact, the whole world. We truly are all in this together and our only hope is that somehow American democracy will be repaired so that it can finally empower governments of, by, and for the people — for the common good, for being a force for good in the world. We have a long way to go.

The Kettering of the future I’d like to see you advocate is a Kettering that is famous for starting the democracy of the future — a vibrant 21st century participatory democracy — a community that practices a politics of unity, that has a well-informed and empowered rank-and-file, an engaged youth, etc. 

It seems like fate that in Kettering we have the Kettering Foundation funded by Charles Kettering in 1927, now with $500 million, and that its mission is to advance thriving democracies throughout the world.

In order for American democracy to thrive, we need a big upgrade to the system. We need to develop the democracy of the future that will use technology and artificial intelligence to empower the rank-and-file to meaningfully participate in their democracy. There is no better place than Kettering for the democracy of the future to be developed.  It seems a good bet that the Kettering Foundation would be receptive to working with a Kettering mayor who offers a plan. 

Now, the fun part will be to write a draft of a plan to establish the democracy of the future in Kettering — as a starting point for discussion. For multiple reasons, Kettering would be an ideal place for an upgrade to a 21st century participatory democracy system. Kettering would be an ideal place for the start of a participatory democracy grassroots movement.

This question about a vision for the future of Kettering is a great question for Bryan. To get to our best future — a future where the astonishing power of AI is used for the common good — will require a united citizenry. We need to invent a politics of unity and Bryan is gifted in all the skills and the background of experiences needed to do just that.

I can’t seem to help myself, but I’m becoming pessimistic about the future. The division and hostility in today’s politics is so great, there seems no answer. We need to elect leaders who have the character, skills and experience needed to build unity and who have the commitment to do so. I have a lot of confidence in Bryan Suddith.