Citizen or Subject
Foundation Blocks

Call to Action

Larger Self
Authoritarian Playbook
Big Issues
Citizen Playbook
Critical Topics

Our Simple but Deceptively Tough Question

Will we carry American Greatness forward or give up and let the American experiment in democracy die?

The American experiment in democracy is at a crossroads, and it won’t survive being ordinary.

The purpose of this website is simple: to challenge – and support – a critical mass of Americans to step up and live out the best of what this country stands for – to be courageous “Citizens” of our democracy and not cowardly “Subjects” of an authoritarian regime.

This is “Our” Challenge as Americans

This is not a liberal vs. conservative, rural vs. urban, or a Republican vs. Democrat issue.

  • This is a nonpartisan issue that will determine whether the extraordinary American experiment in democracy continues or rapidly declines into authoritarian rule.
  • It is a test of our fundamental belief that all people are created equal and capable of self-rule vs. the belief that some people are born superior and should rule the others.
  • This is a fundamental issue of independent democratic self-rule vs. dependent authoritarian dominance.
  • And it is a test of our character - our values, courage, perseverance, resilience – and our ability to rise above our differences to find the common ground and solidarity on which to stand together.
Our Larger Selves
We are called – now - to (a) protect and improve our democratic processes and institutions and (b) take on the big tough intimidating issues we face in our world. 
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Big Issues
We are called – now – to act as citizens to (a) counter the strategies in the “authoritarian playbook” and (b) implement the strategies in the “citizens’ playbook”
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Citizens Playbook
We are called – now – to act as citizens to (a) counter the strategies in the “authoritarian playbook” and (b) implement the strategies in the “citizens’ playbook”
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Authoritarian Playbook
We are called – now – to act as citizens to (a) counter the strategies in the “authoritarian playbook” and (b) implement the strategies in the “citizens’ playbook”
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The Two Foundation Blocks of American Greatness on Which We Stand
We have two strong foundation blocks on which to stand – our extraordinary founding and our 250-year “no quit” trajectory – to fully realize our founding vision.
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Citizen or Subject
Will we act as courageous “citizens” and carry the American experiment in democracy forward – or cower and become subjects?  We either step up as citizens or get stepped on as “subjects” of the emerging authoritarian regime.
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What is Here?

I. We Answer the Core Question - Are We “Citizens” or “Subjects”?

  • We act as courageous “citizens” and carry American Greatness forward vs. cowering as “subjects” – we don’t let the American experiment die
  • We step up as “citizens” vs. getting stepped on as “subjects”
  • We model true American Greatness because the American Experiment won’t survive “ordinary”

II. We Stand as Citizens on the Two Foundation Blocks of American Greatness

  • We draw strength and inspiration from our history and model the courage, perseverance, and resilience it represents
  • We draw strength and inspiration from our 250-year “No Quit” trajectory to deal with the inevitable “ups and downs” in the quest to fully realize the founding vision

III. We Answer the “Call to Action”

  • We build on our strengths and avoid the “Aw Shucks Phenomenon” and the Competency Trap – acting with courage, confidence, and a sense of purpose and significance
  • We select actions from an array of possibilities to protect and improve our democratic processes and institutions
  • We select actions to deal with the big tough intimidating issues we face in our world
  • We act now – each in our own way

V. We Act from Our “Larger Selves”

  • We act from our larger selves because being a citizen of a democracy is an extraordinary challenge
  • Even if we feel small, we act large
  • We draw on the five qualities at the heart of our larger selves – a sense of significance; commitment and courage; perseverance and resilience; connections with others; and extending grace to ourselves and others
  • We avoid the behaviors of cowering subjects – passivity, shrinking back, groveling, denying the issues, fawning and boot licking, sucking up, bowing down, feeling like a victim, focusing on grievances, blaming others, etc.
Thought Catchers

Why Does it Matter?

1. The American experiment in democracy (particularly as a large diverse democracy) is at high risk of falling prey to its own challenges and the false lure of the authoritarian playbook

2. A critical mass of American citizens must recognize that and answer the call to act – to strengthen and improve our democratic institutions and processes as well as take on the tough intimidating issues
we face in our world – and find the common ground to act together

3. The time is now as we face the greatest threat to the American experiment since the Civil War