About This Website
This website is published by Perfect Democracy (a non-partisan political action committee). It is designed and intended to serve as an informational resource (to foster a shared understanding of democracy) and as an organizational hub for a broad-based and inclusive pro-democracy movement, helping Politically Active Citizens (and other pro-democracy organizations) work together to build support for the reforms needed to make America a Perfect Democracy and get those reforms enacted.
A different kind of political action committee.
The acronym PAC ordinarily stands for "Political Action Committee". Perfect Democracy is a different kind of PAC – a broad and inclusive pro-democracy organization consisting of “Politically Active Citizens".
The primary focus of most PACs is raising money and then spending that money in support of candidates who will do the bidding of the people and organizations who contribute money. (Most commonly corporations and billionaires who provide enormous amounts of mostly “dark” money.) Our primary focus is on facilitating communication between Politically Active Citizens and coordinating the efforts of Politically Active Citizens as we work together to perfect democracy in America.
Join, Contribute, Contact
Joining our organization (and the pro-democracy movement) is as simple as providing your contact information. A link to provide your email address is provided at the bottom of each page on this website. (As well as links to our YouTube channel and social media.) Additional options for submitting your contact information can be found on the “Join, Contribute, Contact” page.
Overview
Once upon a time...
John Locke wrote a book that changed the world. Not immediately. And not as much as it could have or should have. But a book that changed the world, nonetheless.
Prior to the publication of Locke’s Second Treatise in December 1689, political philosophers had generally considered a monarchy or an aristocracy to be the best form of government. Socrates and Plato believed those who shared power should be wise and virtuous and they considered wisdom and virtue to be extremely rare. Thomas Hobbes described life in the state of nature as “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short” and as “a war of every man against every man” and argued that to escape this condition, people, seeking peace, should form a commonwealth by joining together under an “agreement or contract…by which they all renounced their rights” and “transferred” them to an absolute monarch.
John Locke (1632-1704)
John Locke had a more generous opinion of human nature.
A deeply spiritual man, he placed both individual liberty and political power within a moral framework informed by his theories regarding life in the state of Nature. He stated, as “self-evident” Truths, that “all men by nature are equal”, endowed by God with natural rights to “life, health, liberty, (and) possessions”; that “the end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom”, and that “the consent of the people” is the only “lawful basis” for government. [All emphases in original.]
If these ideas sound familiar, it’s because they were immortalized by Thomas Jefferson, who was clearly inspired by Locke as he wrote the Declaration of Independence, which included a concise summary of Locke’s ideas:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
These ideas were revolutionary. Demonstrably so. They inspired the American Revolution - a war that Thomas Paine later called “a Revolution in the principles and practice of Governments”. They’ve been inspiring people ever since.
The political revolution sparked by Locke’s ideas remains incomplete.
More than three centuries after Locke wrote his Second Treatise of Government and two and a half centuries after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the world has yet to see Locke’s vision of a Perfect Democracy fully realized in any nation. Less than half the countries in the world today have democratic governments and the versions of democracy in place in more than half of those countries are deeply flawed.
Democracy in America?
It is common and natural for people to exhibit a noticeable bias in favor of their own country when comparing countries in various ways. One form that bias commonly takes is believing one’s own country to be more democratic than it is. That is certainly true of most Americans.
We are taught in school that our nation was the birthplace of democracy in the modern world, that our government is the most democratic government in the world and the greatest democracy in the history of the world, and that most other democratic nations have modeled their constitutions on ours.
We do have a reasonably legitimate claim to being the birthplace of democracy in the modern world. The Declaration of Independence, ratified by victory in the American Revolution, transformed thirteen British colonies into “Free and Independent States” that were “Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown”. Monarchies had been the dominant form of government in Europe since the fall of Athens and the end of the Roman Republic. We were the first nation to replace a monarch with governments in those newly independent states that were flawed and limited versions of democracy but were at least somewhat democratic.
The facts do not back up these other examples of American exceptionalism.
Democracy in America was soon undermined by the false friends and true enemies of democracy, who outnumbered the Champions of Democracy at the Federal Convention of 1787. They drafted a constitution for the United States that significantly limited the power of the people. As a result of anti-democratic provisions in our Constitution -
There have been, and are, many nations with governments more democratic than ours.
The Democracy Index, which has been published annually since 2006 by The Economist, ranks the nations of the world in terms of the state of democracy in each country. Nations are given numerical scores on a total of 60 indicators and grouped into four categories based on their average score: full democracies, flawed democracies, hybrid regimes, and authoritarian regimes.
The United States has never been ranked as the most democratic country in the world, has been classified as a flawed democracy since 2016. We are currently ranked as the 28th most democratic country in the world.
In its annual “Freedom in the World” report, Freedom House rates over 200 countries and territories in terms of people’s access to political rights and civil liberties ranging from the right to vote to freedom of expression and equality before the law. More than 50 countries currently rank higher than the United States.
Given these rankings from two objective and authoritative sources, it should come as no surprise to find that -
No other nations have modeled their constitutions on ours.
In his book How Democratic is the American Constitution? Robert Dahl thoroughly documented the fact that, “Among the countries most comparable to the United States and where democratic institutions have long existed without breakdown, not one has adopted our American constitutional system. Without a single exception they have all rejected it.”Dahl’s answer to the question posed in the title of his book? Our Constitution is not very democratic.
Is America a true democracy?
The authors of the Democracy Index acknowledge the fact that some people “insist that democracy is, necessarily, a dichotomous concept: a state is either a democracy or not.” If we define democracy as government by the people and accept majority rule as the essential element that make a government a true democracy, then America is not a democracy.
Observation tells us, and research confirms, that “Majorities of the American public actually have little influence over the policies our government adopts.” And that “economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on U.S. government policy, while mass-based interest groups and average citizens have little or no independent influence.” [Both quotations are from a study by Benjamin I. Page and Martin Gilens.]
On the other hand, we, the people of the United States, have all the power we need to enact the reforms necessary to make our government a true democracy. With that being the case, it is more accurate to describe our government as a “flawed democracy”.
Democracy in America is far from perfect.
Antidemocratic provisions in the body of our Constitution and flaws in the way we conduct elections have made it possible for corporate interests and billionaires to gain control of our governments at both the state and federal levels. The version of democracy in place in America at present is so deeply flawed as to be more accurately described as an oligarchy, or more specifically, as a combination of a corporatocracy and a plutocracy (government by and for corporate interests and the wealthy).
Money has become the dominant factor in our elections and has corrupted politicians at all levels of government and in both of our major political parties. Our vaunted system of checks and balances has resulted in gridlock and made it possible for corporatists and plutocrats to consistently block legislation supported by a majority of Americans. Along with the frustration of not being able to get critically needed legislation enacted, a tsunami of misinformation, disinformation, and outright lies has generated toxic levels of anger, fear, and hatred, and left Americans deeply and bitterly divided.
We argue angrily and endlessly about the issues that divide us (abortion, gay rights, gun control, and immigration). The discussion never seems to focus on the issues where we are in broad agreement (access to affordable health care for all, affordable homes, and a federal job guarantee, to name a few). None of the conflicts that divide us are ever resolved. None of the problems we face as a nation are ever truly solved.
Making America a Perfect Democracy
Given the state of politics and civic engagement in America today, the idea of making America a Perfect Democracy may seem, to many Americans, to be hopelessly idealistic. It is idealistic. Our nation was founded on noble and democratic ideals, clearly stated as “self-evident” Truths in our Declaration of Independence. The idea of making America a Perfect Democracy is not hopeless. The “self-evident” Truths stated in our Declaration of Independence are eternal and nearly all Americans believe in them.
When we unite in support of our ideals, we will find that we already have all the power we need to -
Perfecting Democracy in America
"The best defense is a good offense."
There is a lot of discussion these days about the need to protect democracy. And we absolutely must do everything we can to defend democracy. However, an adage common to sports and warfare applies here: “The best defense is a good offense.”
We need to pro-actively support reforms that will shift power from corporate interests and plutocrats to the people of each state and provide the foundation for making America a Perfect Democracy.
The flaws in our version of democracy are largely the result of antidemocratic provisions embedded in the body of our Constitution and the way we conduct elections.
We will need to enact numerous reforms, most of them in the form of constitutional amendments, to remove the antidemocratic provisions from our Constitution and address flaws in the way we conduct elections. The Constitution of the United States is the most difficult constitution in the world to amend. We can make it much easier to amend our Constitution by enacting either one, or both, of -
Two elegantly simple, yet incredibly powerful reforms:
Personal Representation
Implementing systems of Personal Representation will allow citizens to vote (indirectly) in Congress and state legislatures by assigning proxies authorizing any one member of each legislative body that governs them to cast votes on their behalf and then giving each senator and representative a number of votes equal to the number of proxies they have been assigned (plus one for themselves) on all matters that are voted on in legislative bodies.
Implementing systems of Personal Representation will instantly transform corrupted and dysfunctional legislative bodies into truly democratic institutions.
Perfect Democracy Amendments
Perfect Democracy Amendments will make it easier for citizens to call referendums and use the initiative in the states that already have provisions for those powerful forms of direct democracy in their constitutions and will extend the use of referendums and the initiative to the federal government and to the states that do not yet provide for them.
A Perfect Democracy must be a seamless combination of direct democracy and representative democracy.
Until the 19th century, direct democracy (with citizens meeting in the same place at the same time) was not a realistic option in large states or nations. The invention of the printing press combined with public education and advances in communications made powerful news forms of direct democracy (referendums and the initiative) possible. In the 21st century, the affairs of states and nations are far too complex to be governed entirely through direct democracy. A seamless combination of direct democracy and representative democracy is necessary to perfect democracy in the 21st century.
Winner-take-all elections, with plurality winners and single-member districts nearly always result in a duopoly (a political system dominated by two major parties). Duopolies have a strong tendency to degenerate into a ruthless, vicious competition for power. Corporate-owned mass media tends to promote a negative political atmosphere by focusing on conflicts because conflicts draws listeners and viewers, which increases ratings, which increases profits. The false friends and true enemies of democracy thrive within a system based on conflict and competition because conflict divides us and makes it easier for corporations and billionaires to maintain control of our government. Their efforts have been very successful. We are deeply and bitterly divided.
In a true democracy, the key to victory in getting legislation enacted is to use reason to persuade people to agree. Seeking consensus unites people. The very act of uniting in support of the reforms needed to make America a Perfect Democracy will help reunite Americans.
Democracy and Technology
Inventions like the printing press and audio and video recording technology have made democracy a better form of government over time. Perfecting democracy in 21st century has been made easier as a result of more recent technological advances.
We have failed – so far – to take full advantage of the internet to improve democracy. We can (and should) establish Online Accounts for Politically Active Citizens to enable citizens to sign petitions electronically (for ballot proposals, veto referendums, and ballot access for candidates); assign and reassign proxies to facilitate Personal Representation; communicate with their authorized representatives and have easy access to civic education resources.
We can also utilize the Internet to facilitate a broad, inclusive, respectful, and constructive deliberative process as political decisions are made and promote other positive and constructive forms of civic engagement among Politically Active Citizens. Calm and rational discussions do not draw nearly as many listeners or viewers as angry rants and heated exchanges of opinions. But rational discussions are a vital part of the political process, especially in a direct democracy. We need to encourage politically active citizens to take full advantage of opportunities to participate in and listen to constructive discussions designed to find common ground and build consensus. The Internet is a valuable resource in that regard.
Texting via cell phones provides another cost-effective way to share information, communicate, and coordinate actions within a broad-based grassroots movement.
Like most other technological advances throughout history, artificial intelligence will almost certainly be employed in some ways that are helpful and in other ways that are dangerous or destructive. As the full range of possibilities related to artificial intelligence come into view, we need to do our best to accentuate the positive possibilities while minimizing or neutralizing the negative aspects.
Minor Changes with Major Benefits
In a survey conducted in 2021, 85% of Americans agreed that we need to completely reform or make major changes to our political system. Of course, many people who say they want change become nervous and hesitant when confronted with specific proposals for changes. We need to help Politically Active Citizens understand that the reforms being proposed are minor changes with major benefits.
To believe in democracy means that you believe major political decisions should be made by the people of a community, state, or nation voting, directly in referendums or indirectly through representative assemblies, with the votes of the majority determining what legislation is enacted.
There is a lengthy list of legislation and proposed legislation that has the support of a majority of the people but has not been passed into law because of the opposition of corporate interests. When we succeed in making America a Perfect Democracy, we will be able to enact all that legislation.
When we alter the form of our government and make America a true democracy, we will also fundamentally alter the nature of civic engagement. The roles of political parties, political candidates, and money will be deemphasized. Angry, hateful interactions are counter-productive in a true democracy. Reason and persuasion and compromise aimed at achieving consensus are the most effect forms of interaction in true democracy. When we make America a Perfect Democracy, we will be more likely to compromise and find ways to resolve our differences regarding abortion, gun control, gay rights, and immigration (especially if we take advantage of the opportunities to craft different compromises at the state level in all fifty states).
The very act of joining forces to get pro-democracy reforms enacted will help heal the deep and bitter divisions among Americans. Especially when we succeed. And we will succeed.
When we, the people, unite in support of these reforms, we will find that we already have all the power we need to get them enacted.
The "Sides" in a Referendum on Democracy
United We Win!
The fact that nearly all Americans believe in democracy does not mean that making America a Perfect Democracy will be easy. Throughout history, the false friends and true enemies of democracy have actively and relentlessly sought to undermine democracy by preventing people from developing a shared understanding of democracy or even agree upon a clear definition of democracy. They have, for the most part, been successful. We, the people, have been divided and we have been conquered.
To exercise our power as the "ultimate rulers of our democracy" we must be united in support of the reforms that will make America a Perfect Democracy.
Politics is a Team Sport
When we think of “sides” in the context of politics in America, we think of Democrats versus Republicans, left wing versus right wing, liberals versus conservatives, or radicals versus moderates. The sides in a campaign to make America a Perfect Democracy, properly defined and understood, are the True Friends and Champions of Democracy versus the false friends and true enemies of democracy.
The True Friends of Democracy believe that the “just powers” of governments are derived from “the consent of the governed.” And that the consent of the governed is properly obtained by giving every citizen in a community, state, or nation an equal vote, with the votes of the majority determining what powers a government is granted, what laws are enacted, and what policies are put in place. Champions of Democracy take an active role in seeking to make governments truly democratic.
The false friends and true enemies of democracy know that they cannot get what they want from governments if everyone has an equal vote and the majority rules. The true enemies of democracy argue openly against democracy. The false friends of democracy claim to believe in democracy but support anti-democratic provisions in political systems and the conduct of elections.
The terms overlap on either side. Champions of Democracy are true friends of democracy who take a more active role in promoting democracy – especially by advocating strongly for democracy while running for or holding public office. The false friends of democracy are true enemies of democracy, who attempt to hide their opposition and actively seek to convince the people of a community, state, or nation that their government is democratic when it is not.
When the “sides” are defined and understood in this way, the other ways of viewing the “sides” are irrelevant. There are Democrats who believe in democracy and Democrats who don’t. There are Republicans who believe in democracy and Republicans who don’t. There are people on both the left and the right (and centrists) who believe in democracy and who don’t. There are liberals and conservatives who believe in democracy and liberals and conservatives who don’t. There are some people who consider democracy to be a radical idea and some people who understand and appreciate that democracy (and liberty) are very moderate expectations.
There are some synonymous terms on both sides. Lower case “d” democrats believe in democracy. Lower case “r” republicans believe in representative democracy. (Although some republicans believe there is a difference between a “republic” and a representative democracy and believe that a “republic” is the best form of government. The true enemies of democracy include fascists, corporatists, plutocrats, authoritarians, and autocrats.
Politics is a Numbers Game
Regardless of the labels we put on the “sides” in a campaign to make America a Perfect Democracy, it is important to remember the following points:
Our “winner-take-all” political system, with single member districts and plurality winners, focuses most of our attention on individual candidates in head-to-head competitions to win seats in legislatures or executive offices. Candidates routinely talk about issues of concern to voters in a manner that implies that, if they are elected, the legislation voters support will be enacted. And yet regardless of which candidates win, very little, if any, of the legislation supported by most Americans is ever enacted.
That is because politics in America is a numbers game. It takes 218 votes in the House and 51 votes in the Senate to enact legislation. With the filibuster in place in the Senate, 60 votes are necessary to pass legislation in most cases. If the president vetoes a bill, it takes 290 votes in the House and 67 in the Senate to override the veto. It also takes 290 votes in the House and 67 in the Senate to propose an amendment to the Constitution, which must then be ratified by a majority vote in three-fourths of the states (38 states). And there are enough members in both major parties who have been corrupted by the need to continually raise enormous amounts of money to keep any legislation opposed by corporate interests or tax-averse billionaires from being enacted.
Although politics is a numbers game, the game is won one seat at a time. To get pro-democracy reforms enacted, we need to elect Champions of Democracy to a majority of the seats in a super-majority of state legislatures and a super-majority of the seats in Congress.
Which Side Are You On?
The sides in a campaign to make America a Perfect Democracy, properly defined and understood, are not Democrats and Republicans, left wing and right wing, liberal and conservative, or radical and moderate, they are True Friends and Champions of Democracy and false friends and true enemies of democracy.
Getting Perfect Democracy Amendments enacted will shift power from corporate interests, tax-averse billionaires, the leaders of the two major political parties, and the politicians who do their bidding, directly to the people by empowering citizens to propose and enact legislation (including constitutional amendments) without the approval or involvement of legislative bodies (or presidents or governors). Implementing systems of Personal Representation will shift power to the people indirectly by shifting power within representative assemblies to the members who best represent the will of the people. The false friends and true enemies of democracy will use all the levers of power at their disposal to keep us from enacting these reforms.
They have the money. We have the votes.
More and more of the money being raised and spent in our elections is “dark money” funneled through “Super PACs” that are legally prohibited from coordinating with candidates but routinely do so with impunity. Candidates know which Super PACs are spending money on their behalf and which megadonors are contributing the dark money. And those megadonors have considerable influence with most legislators.
The corporatists and plutocrats who currently control nearly all the levers of power in America will not give up without a fight. They will spend tons of money in support of the false friends and true enemies of democracy who hold office or are running for office and who faithfully serve their interests. But we have them outnumbered. Super-PACs may routinely outspend us, but if we unite in support of democracy, we can outvote them. When enough of us unite in support of Champions of Democracy and the democratic ideals upon which our nation was founded, our pro-democracy movement will be "too big to fail".
The prospect of making America a Perfect Democracy should excite and motivate us as much as it scares the current rulers of America. When enough voters vote like it matters – it will. And when we succeed, we will do more than make America great again. We will make America greater than it has ever been. We will make history.
Join the Pro-Democracy Movement
Communication is vital within a broad-based grassroots movement. We are compiling a data base of pro-democracy activists and voters. To join the Pro-Democracy Movement, please provide your email address. Your information will not be sold or shared. You will not receive emails or text messages soliciting financial contributions.
The material on this website is adapted from a soon to be published book: Government by the People: Perfecting Democracy in the 21st Century by Winston Apple.
Content is Copyright 2025 Gary Winston Apple, unless otherwise noted..
Permission is granted to share with proper attribution. All Rights are Reserved.
This website is paid for by Perfect Democracy - a 501(c)4 political action committee.