I’m going to start by laying it all out you ready
democracy is made up I’ll say that again
democracy is made up I’ll say that again democracy is made up democracies
democracy is made up democracies
democracy is made up democracies monarchies communist states all forms of
monarchies communist states all forms of
monarchies communist states all forms of government are all just conceptions of
government are all just conceptions of
government are all just conceptions of the human imagination our system of
the human imagination our system of
the human imagination our system of government was designed like the Rubik’s
government was designed like the Rubik’s
government was designed like the Rubik’s Cube or the telephone or any other
Cube or the telephone or any other
Cube or the telephone or any other product service or system we know today
product service or system we know today
product service or system we know today governments are just experiments in
governments are just experiments in
governments are just experiments in figuring out how to use rules and
figuring out how to use rules and
figuring out how to use rules and principles to organize people so that we
principles to organize people so that we
principles to organize people so that we can benefit from being part of a
can benefit from being part of a
can benefit from being part of a collective and so that we don’t devolve
collective and so that we don’t devolve
collective and so that we don’t devolve into warring sections at least all of
into warring sections at least all of
into warring sections at least all of the time but at some point all of these
the time but at some point all of these
the time but at some point all of these forms of government in fact all of our
forms of government in fact all of our
forms of government in fact all of our social systems they didn’t exist until
social systems they didn’t exist until
social systems they didn’t exist until someone thought them up they didn’t
someone thought them up they didn’t
someone thought them up they didn’t exist until someone imagined them our
exist until someone imagined them our
exist until someone imagined them our system of democracy our philosophy of
system of democracy our philosophy of
system of democracy our philosophy of democracy didn’t exist until the ancient
democracy didn’t exist until the ancient
democracy didn’t exist until the ancient Greeks until this gentleman Clea Sinise
Greeks until this gentleman Clea Sinise
Greeks until this gentleman Clea Sinise thought it up so if this whole thing
thought it up so if this whole thing
thought it up so if this whole thing democracy is made up we’re all on the
democracy is made up we’re all on the
democracy is made up we’re all on the same page about that well then let’s see
same page about that well then let’s see
same page about that well then let’s see exactly what we created so democracy
exactly what we created so democracy
exactly what we created so democracy this made up philosophy of government
this made up philosophy of government
this made up philosophy of government rests on three key principles liberty
rests on three key principles liberty
rests on three key principles liberty justice and equality in the u.s. to help
justice and equality in the u.s. to help
justice and equality in the u.s. to help us live out these principles our
us live out these principles our
us live out these principles our founding fathers created a system of
founding fathers created a system of
founding fathers created a system of rules and institutions to help us live
rules and institutions to help us live
rules and institutions to help us live out this practice it was to help us make
out this practice it was to help us make
out this practice it was to help us make decisions distribute power and protect
decisions distribute power and protect
decisions distribute power and protect us against tyranny we know these things
us against tyranny we know these things
us against tyranny we know these things today as how bill becomes a law our
today as how bill becomes a law our
today as how bill becomes a law our process of elections and how our
process of elections and how our
process of elections and how our president becomes into power but here’s
president becomes into power but here’s
president becomes into power but here’s the thing
the thing
the thing those founders they created this system
those founders they created this system
those founders they created this system from their point of view and as you can
from their point of view and as you can
from their point of view and as you can see that was a very white very male very
see that was a very white very male very
see that was a very white very male very Christian and very wealthy point of view
Christian and very wealthy point of view
Christian and very wealthy point of view they didn’t know or in reality they
they didn’t know or in reality they
they didn’t know or in reality they probably didn’t care that the system of
probably didn’t care that the system of
probably didn’t care that the system of governance this practice of democracy
governance this practice of democracy
governance this practice of democracy that they were designing was heavily
that they were designing was heavily
that they were designing was heavily biased by their conception of power an
biased by their conception of power an
biased by their conception of power an ingrained belief and patriarchal angle
ingrained belief and patriarchal angle
ingrained belief and patriarchal angle European and Christian values
European and Christian values
European and Christian values they were crafting a system of democracy
they were crafting a system of democracy
they were crafting a system of democracy yes that was built on those fundamental
yes that was built on those fundamental
yes that was built on those fundamental principles of liberty justice and
principles of liberty justice and
principles of liberty justice and equality but they were also designing a
equality but they were also designing a
equality but they were also designing a system that perpetuated this ideology of
system that perpetuated this ideology of
system that perpetuated this ideology of power the system they designed was and
power the system they designed was and
power the system they designed was and still is today biased let me show you
still is today biased let me show you
still is today biased let me show you what I mean in 1789 George Washington
what I mean in 1789 George Washington
what I mean in 1789 George Washington was elected in that election only six
was elected in that election only six
was elected in that election only six percent of the population could vote six
percent of the population could vote six
percent of the population could vote six percent there is about a hundred of us
percent there is about a hundred of us
percent there is about a hundred of us here look around if this was 1789 six of
here look around if this was 1789 six of
here look around if this was 1789 six of you could vote and by the way you’d have
you could vote and by the way you’d have
you could vote and by the way you’d have to be white you’d have to be male and
to be white you’d have to be male and
to be white you’d have to be male and you would have to own land
you would have to own land
you would have to own land how many of you live in New York City
how many of you live in New York City
how many of you live in New York City okay almost all of you well you know as
okay almost all of you well you know as
okay almost all of you well you know as well as I that it is so hard to own
well as I that it is so hard to own
well as I that it is so hard to own property in New York City so I don’t
property in New York City so I don’t
property in New York City so I don’t know if any of us would have qualified
know if any of us would have qualified
know if any of us would have qualified to actually vote so over the next 250
to actually vote so over the next 250
to actually vote so over the next 250 years as those empower expanded their
years as those empower expanded their
years as those empower expanded their definition of human to include women to
definition of human to include women to
definition of human to include women to include persons of color to include
include persons of color to include
include persons of color to include queer persons they slowly eked out right
queer persons they slowly eked out right
queer persons they slowly eked out right to these roots and that began with the
to these roots and that began with the
to these roots and that began with the right to citizenship the right to vote
right to citizenship the right to vote
right to citizenship the right to vote the right to access education the right
the right to access education the right
the right to access education the right to not be discriminated against for your
to not be discriminated against for your
to not be discriminated against for your race or religion but you can think of
race or religion but you can think of
race or religion but you can think of these founders like quilt makers they
these founders like quilt makers they
these founders like quilt makers they were crafting this epic quilt right this
were crafting this epic quilt right this
were crafting this epic quilt right this quilt of modern democracy but they were
quilt of modern democracy but they were
quilt of modern democracy but they were the crafters they manifested its design
the crafters they manifested its design
the crafters they manifested its design to suit them and anyone else that looked
to suit them and anyone else that looked
to suit them and anyone else that looked or was like them anyone else outside of
or was like them anyone else outside of
or was like them anyone else outside of that system wasn’t included or
that system wasn’t included or
that system wasn’t included or incorporated in its design and they
incorporated in its design and they
incorporated in its design and they certainly weren’t given any authority to
certainly weren’t given any authority to
certainly weren’t given any authority to help craft it so over time as these
help craft it so over time as these
help craft it so over time as these rights expanded we were creating more
rights expanded we were creating more
rights expanded we were creating more access than opportunity and you could
access than opportunity and you could
access than opportunity and you could look at this list and say okay all right
look at this list and say okay all right
look at this list and say okay all right so sure they made this design in their
so sure they made this design in their
so sure they made this design in their image but look at how much we’ve done
image but look at how much we’ve done
image but look at how much we’ve done we’re expanding access we’re creating
we’re expanding access we’re creating
we’re expanding access we’re creating change and you’re right this is a pretty
change and you’re right this is a pretty
change and you’re right this is a pretty long list we have made change but I look
long list we have made change but I look
long list we have made change but I look at this system of piece by piece tacking
at this system of piece by piece tacking
at this system of piece by piece tacking on rights as just more evidence of our
on rights as just more evidence of our
on rights as just more evidence of our systems flaw because if this process of
systems flaw because if this process of
systems flaw because if this process of progress this piece-by-piece process of
progress this piece-by-piece process of
progress this piece-by-piece process of expanding rights was working then why
expanding rights was working then why
expanding rights was working then why are so many individual
are so many individual
are so many individual still fighting for equality
we had an abolitionist movement and then
we had an abolitionist movement and then a whole civil war and then a civil
a whole civil war and then a civil
a whole civil war and then a civil rights movement in the 1960s but yet we
rights movement in the 1960s but yet we
rights movement in the 1960s but yet we still need a modern civil rights
still need a modern civil rights
still need a modern civil rights movement in black lives matter because
movement in black lives matter because
movement in black lives matter because persons of color in this country don’t
persons of color in this country don’t
persons of color in this country don’t have the rights or opportunities that
have the rights or opportunities that
have the rights or opportunities that they deserve as humans in our society we
they deserve as humans in our society we
they deserve as humans in our society we have had two women’s liberation
have had two women’s liberation
have had two women’s liberation movements too and yet we still needed a
movements too and yet we still needed a
movements too and yet we still needed a women’s March just this past year where
women’s March just this past year where
women’s March just this past year where millions of people men and women marched
millions of people men and women marched
millions of people men and women marched in 653 cities across the country because
in 653 cities across the country because
in 653 cities across the country because sexism still oppresses all of us and we
sexism still oppresses all of us and we
sexism still oppresses all of us and we still and women still don’t have the
still and women still don’t have the
still and women still don’t have the rights or opportunities that they
rights or opportunities that they
rights or opportunities that they deserve as people in this country when
deserve as people in this country when
deserve as people in this country when those in power still control what gets
those in power still control what gets
those in power still control what gets added to our quilt we will never create
added to our quilt we will never create
added to our quilt we will never create a more just and equal society when those
a more just and equal society when those
a more just and equal society when those in power still control what its design
in power still control what its design
in power still control what its design is rather than inviting all of us to
is rather than inviting all of us to
is rather than inviting all of us to create a more colorful quilt we won’t
create a more colorful quilt we won’t
create a more colorful quilt we won’t achieve progress we’ll continue this
achieve progress we’ll continue this
achieve progress we’ll continue this progress this process of progress that
progress this process of progress that
progress this process of progress that looks like progress but in fact fails
looks like progress but in fact fails
looks like progress but in fact fails millions of people over and over again
millions of people over and over again
millions of people over and over again we need to create a new way in which
we need to create a new way in which
we need to create a new way in which we’re redefining power in which we’re
we’re redefining power in which we’re
we’re redefining power in which we’re creating progress in which we’re moving
creating progress in which we’re moving
creating progress in which we’re moving forward to address a fundamental flaw in
forward to address a fundamental flaw in
forward to address a fundamental flaw in our system what I want to see and what I
our system what I want to see and what I
our system what I want to see and what I know is possible is a reimagining of our
know is possible is a reimagining of our
know is possible is a reimagining of our ideology of power I want to see an
ideology of power I want to see an
ideology of power I want to see an ideology that’s rooted in the
ideology that’s rooted in the
ideology that’s rooted in the fundamentals of our humanity not our
fundamentals of our humanity not our
fundamentals of our humanity not our race not our religion not our sexuality
race not our religion not our sexuality
race not our religion not our sexuality not our gender not anything
not our gender not anything
not our gender not anything else that others us to be fair it’s not
else that others us to be fair it’s not
else that others us to be fair it’s not that those markers don’t exist it’s just
that those markers don’t exist it’s just
that those markers don’t exist it’s just that in my opinion in the practice of a
that in my opinion in the practice of a
that in my opinion in the practice of a modern democracy those markers shouldn’t
modern democracy those markers shouldn’t
modern democracy those markers shouldn’t generate different levels of value for
generate different levels of value for
generate different levels of value for people this is the point at which I’m
people this is the point at which I’m
people this is the point at which I’m sure several of you are thinking that
sure several of you are thinking that
sure several of you are thinking that sounds great super idealistic never
sounds great super idealistic never
sounds great super idealistic never gonna happen
gonna happen
gonna happen change is hard and you’re right change
change is hard and you’re right change
change is hard and you’re right change is really hard we’re humans we don’t
is really hard we’re humans we don’t
is really hard we’re humans we don’t like change and changing something is
like change and changing something is
like change and changing something is fundamental as this bias that’s been in
fundamental as this bias that’s been in
fundamental as this bias that’s been in our system for centuries is even harder
our system for centuries is even harder
our system for centuries is even harder but I know that change is possible
but I know that change is possible
but I know that change is possible because we have done all this I know
because we have done all this I know
because we have done all this I know that change is possible because I
that change is possible because I
that change is possible because I wouldn’t be standing on this stage if it
wouldn’t be standing on this stage if it
wouldn’t be standing on this stage if it wasn’t so if our goal is a reimagining
wasn’t so if our goal is a reimagining
wasn’t so if our goal is a reimagining of our ideology of power how do we start
of our ideology of power how do we start
of our ideology of power how do we start well we actually start in the same way
well we actually start in the same way
well we actually start in the same way the ancient Greeks did we start by
the ancient Greeks did we start by
the ancient Greeks did we start by experimenting we start by imagining we
experimenting we start by imagining we
experimenting we start by imagining we practice by designing experiences where
practice by designing experiences where
practice by designing experiences where we get to see and feel and understand
we get to see and feel and understand
we get to see and feel and understand our humanity in a new way
our humanity in a new way
our humanity in a new way we prototype by designing new systems
we prototype by designing new systems
we prototype by designing new systems together with those most underserved and
together with those most underserved and
together with those most underserved and underrepresented and our existing
underrepresented and our existing
underrepresented and our existing systems today
systems today
systems today an example I’m really proud of is a
an example I’m really proud of is a
an example I’m really proud of is a experience I designed late last year
experience I designed late last year
experience I designed late last year with my creative partner Alex Todaro at
with my creative partner Alex Todaro at
with my creative partner Alex Todaro at median we designed an interactive dining
median we designed an interactive dining
median we designed an interactive dining experience where we enabled participants
experience where we enabled participants
experience where we enabled participants to understand the decisions and emotions
to understand the decisions and emotions
to understand the decisions and emotions that immigrants average citizens and
that immigrants average citizens and
that immigrants average citizens and political representatives experience
political representatives experience
political representatives experience when they interact the outcome was
when they interact the outcome was
when they interact the outcome was really powerful participants who
really powerful participants who
really powerful participants who typically held positions of privilege in
typically held positions of privilege in
typically held positions of privilege in our existing system shared that for the
our existing system shared that for the
our existing system shared that for the first time they understood what it felt
first time they understood what it felt
first time they understood what it felt like to be outside of it
another example that’s happening on the
another example that’s happening on the global political stage is a group called
global political stage is a group called
global political stage is a group called democracy earth democracy earth started
democracy earth democracy earth started
democracy earth democracy earth started out as a political party in Argentina
out as a political party in Argentina
out as a political party in Argentina that was trying to use blockchain
that was trying to use blockchain
that was trying to use blockchain technology to enable more participants
technology to enable more participants
technology to enable more participants to pop to participate in policy
to pop to participate in policy
to pop to participate in policy decisions today they are a Y Combinator
decisions today they are a Y Combinator
decisions today they are a Y Combinator back to nonprofit that is seeking to
back to nonprofit that is seeking to
back to nonprofit that is seeking to build a platform to support this thing
build a platform to support this thing
build a platform to support this thing that they call liquid democracy it’s a
that they call liquid democracy it’s a
that they call liquid democracy it’s a combination of direct democracy and
combination of direct democracy and
combination of direct democracy and representative democracy that they
representative democracy that they
representative democracy that they really hope spreads throughout the world
really hope spreads throughout the world
really hope spreads throughout the world they are creating a new system that
they are creating a new system that
they are creating a new system that disrupts our traditional notions of
disrupts our traditional notions of
disrupts our traditional notions of power so that the most underrepresented
power so that the most underrepresented
power so that the most underrepresented and underserved individual can have a
and underserved individual can have a
and underserved individual can have a meaningful voice in the practice of
meaningful voice in the practice of
meaningful voice in the practice of democracy now you might be sitting here
democracy now you might be sitting here
democracy now you might be sitting here thinking amazing I’m not a part of any
thinking amazing I’m not a part of any
thinking amazing I’m not a part of any of these things I don’t know how to
of these things I don’t know how to
of these things I don’t know how to design a dinner I’m sure you all do them
design a dinner I’m sure you all do them
design a dinner I’m sure you all do them how can I contribute to making change
how can I contribute to making change
how can I contribute to making change well there’s actually a lot that you as
well there’s actually a lot that you as
well there’s actually a lot that you as individuals can do you can start by
individuals can do you can start by
individuals can do you can start by doing two things first start doing the
doing two things first start doing the
doing two things first start doing the personal work to become a modern
personal work to become a modern
personal work to become a modern democratic citizen get comfortable with
democratic citizen get comfortable with
democratic citizen get comfortable with ambiguity and realize that multiple
ambiguity and realize that multiple
ambiguity and realize that multiple perspectives can be valid not just your
perspectives can be valid not just your
perspectives can be valid not just your own in this new world in this new world
own in this new world in this new world
own in this new world in this new world of power and collective experience you
of power and collective experience you
of power and collective experience you might you might experience some things
might you might experience some things
might you might experience some things that are maybe uncomfortable or
that are maybe uncomfortable or
that are maybe uncomfortable or unfamiliar I encourage you to lean into
unfamiliar I encourage you to lean into
unfamiliar I encourage you to lean into that discomfort acknowledge and
that discomfort acknowledge and
that discomfort acknowledge and recognize when your biases crop up and
recognize when your biases crop up and
recognize when your biases crop up and learn from them too
connect with someone who is different
connect with someone who is different from you start by talking to someone in
from you start by talking to someone in
from you start by talking to someone in your own community start by actively
your own community start by actively
your own community start by actively listening to them and understanding and
listening to them and understanding and
listening to them and understanding and hearing their story try to learn
hearing their story try to learn
hearing their story try to learn something new about them that you’ve
something new about them that you’ve
something new about them that you’ve never before heard and seek to
never before heard and seek to
never before heard and seek to understand what the world looks like
understand what the world looks like
understand what the world looks like through their eyes
the larger point is this if this whole
the larger point is this if this whole thing is made up we’ve so much more
thing is made up we’ve so much more
thing is made up we’ve so much more capacity to create change than we think
capacity to create change than we think
capacity to create change than we think if this whole thing is made up our
if this whole thing is made up our
if this whole thing is made up our system of government our ideology of
system of government our ideology of
system of government our ideology of power then let’s make something new
power then let’s make something new
power then let’s make something new together thank you
”
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