Please lets call it ANYTHING but project 2029 - How about The great Democracy Reset? Project 2029 sounds to much like that Heritage Foundation plan currently being implemented! Yes to the Democrats, Liberals, Left, Progressives, Independants and Moderate Republicans becoming elected throughout our land so we do not have all of these terrible policies. We ned Medicare For All, A National Weather Service and FEMA, Schools, Libraries and EPA and FDA and so much that the Left champions for a better quality of life for ALL Americans.
We can call it whatever we like. My purpose here is to make a case for why we need to revitalize democratic institutions so that we will be able to address progressive policies, and for why I believe there may be a window of time when that is possible to do.
I completely agree, lets call it The great Democracy Reset, Policy First, We The People . My comment ws about the messaging, which will get confused if the Democratic Reset is called the same thing as the MAGA horror show. I appreciate your Supstack very much, and I know you appreciate messaging. People have short attention spans. The Democrats ARE NOT the Republicans - calling something by the same name will create confusion. That is my purpose in this comment, to be clear about our policies.
Matt, I’m so glad to hear you are doing this. I’ve thought for some time we should prepare now for the post-Trump years and know they will not look like the pre-Trump years. Our democracy is ripe for an overhaul. I agree it’s shocking that someone like him was elected not once but twice. Autocratic leaders have no place in a democracy and the disinformation that contributes to their existence must be rooted out somehow.
We really need proportional representation. Instead of districts for representatives, I wish parties were represented according to the proportion of the popular vote. Proportional representation for each state and proportional representation at the national level. And I wish we had ranked-choice voting. I’m thinking, 600 representatives of which 150 are national representatives awarded as necessary to ensure proportional representation of each party in the national level. The first 450 would be for proportional representation for each state.
This idea of a reset, of rebuilding a better America, is the silver lining to follow the Trump reign. I don’t know what groups you work with now but the coalition needs to be broad and deep to spread the word and build momentum in a clear, compelling fashion that will ignite the imaginations of all our citizenry. People are hungry yo he brought back together in common trust and decency.
Do it in broad daylight. Invite true Conservatives to join.
Start with addressing the issues of scale and representation in both the legislative and judicial branches. (things that can be done without a Constitutional amendment.)
I'm very pleased to see this kind of article. You've been accumulating the ideas for this and it seems well thought out. I really look forward to reading this soon. Thank you!
There's a fellow Substacker, dude who goes by the name of GOD, who also came out with a Project 2029 idea, so you're not alone, Matt (plus, I think he likes your Book in the Bible)! :)
As for the "branding," I think it makes it clear that this is the defensive counter-attack against this ghastly crap, as well as feeding off the phrase that's already in people's heads: "Your Project 2025 is killing the country. Our Project 2029 will save it."
This is one of your best columns and ideas…. Title TBD ( I agree that Project 2029 gives too much credence to Project 2025‼️). But let’s also be planning how to oppose the right wing onslaught of “ far left extremism” that they always label us with!
Presumably you are aware of the work done some years ago by a bipartisan group to modify our government to be more representative? It was called "Our Common Purpose" (https://www.amacad.org/ourcommonpurpose/report). Rather than re-invent the wheel, it might be more time-effective to build on the work that was begun here. Common Cause is freaking out about the horrors of an Article V Constitutional Convention, and certainly if it is mismanaged it could be as horrendous as they fear. On the other hand, it might also be a vehicle to implement the likes of the proposals in Our Common Purpose in a more timely fashion. And it would seem to me that there is a safeguard written into Article V, that any changes proposed must be approved by 3/4's of the States. Last I counted (2024 election) there were 18 "blue" States, or roughly 1/3 of the 50, so there is still a buffer.
This is crucial for success; not only to chart a new beginning, but also to bring in effective and coherent resistance, rather that the scattered, vague reactive texts, emails and blogs those of us outside the inner circle are getting now...as well-intentioned as they may be. Movements, change and passion are fueled by a vision best far more than by fear and moment-to-moment reactivity.
The Democratic party has been living on misplaced assumptions, which many of us stalwarts now question. There are many, many questions to be raised and discussed; how have our existing institutions failed or been perceived as ineffective for those now disengaged? What's the history of that, and what can we learn? What will be most meaningful in the short term AND the long term? Who have been raising alarms and running counter to established assumptions and the associated power structures that got us here? I think of Elizabeth Warren, Robert Reich, Bernie Sanders, AOC and David Hogg for example. They have been persistent and consistent about the hypocrisy we have all been seeing for years. We have not all been blind. I just opened a book written in 1980 by Bertram Gross, entitled "Friendly Fascism..the New Face pf Power in America". Back then, he described the very factors which got us here in chilling detail...and how it can look now. It was hard to read, but important. I hope that that sort of wisdom is at the table, as the group developing "Project 2029" (or whatever it gets named) comes together. It needs to be a very eclectic group, including disaffected conservatives as well as visionary radical thinkers to discover fundamental shared the values we had all built our daily lives around. Inclusion and listening, plus creativity is a key starting point. The wisdom of elders, combined with the passion by the young generation are needed for this effort. Let the learning and agenda mutually shape each other with respectful listening and far less ego. That takes a different sort of courage and wisdom than we have seen (from the outside, at least) for decades.
The other challenge is about restoring contact, connection and messaging in a fragmented information system. It started with handcuffing the FCC (I know NIck Johnson, who had been head when it happened) and led to the likes of Ditto Heads, Sinclair News and Fox News now dominating too many minds with fear, anger and distortions. This website is one place I come. PBS is another. What else can be used to empathize with and bring in fearful, confused listeners? The worst mistake we can make would be to demonize them and dismiss them.
Please lets call it ANYTHING but project 2029 - How about The great Democracy Reset? Project 2029 sounds to much like that Heritage Foundation plan currently being implemented! Yes to the Democrats, Liberals, Left, Progressives, Independants and Moderate Republicans becoming elected throughout our land so we do not have all of these terrible policies. We ned Medicare For All, A National Weather Service and FEMA, Schools, Libraries and EPA and FDA and so much that the Left champions for a better quality of life for ALL Americans.
We can call it whatever we like. My purpose here is to make a case for why we need to revitalize democratic institutions so that we will be able to address progressive policies, and for why I believe there may be a window of time when that is possible to do.
I completely agree, lets call it The great Democracy Reset, Policy First, We The People . My comment ws about the messaging, which will get confused if the Democratic Reset is called the same thing as the MAGA horror show. I appreciate your Supstack very much, and I know you appreciate messaging. People have short attention spans. The Democrats ARE NOT the Republicans - calling something by the same name will create confusion. That is my purpose in this comment, to be clear about our policies.
Matt, I’m so glad to hear you are doing this. I’ve thought for some time we should prepare now for the post-Trump years and know they will not look like the pre-Trump years. Our democracy is ripe for an overhaul. I agree it’s shocking that someone like him was elected not once but twice. Autocratic leaders have no place in a democracy and the disinformation that contributes to their existence must be rooted out somehow.
We really need proportional representation. Instead of districts for representatives, I wish parties were represented according to the proportion of the popular vote. Proportional representation for each state and proportional representation at the national level. And I wish we had ranked-choice voting. I’m thinking, 600 representatives of which 150 are national representatives awarded as necessary to ensure proportional representation of each party in the national level. The first 450 would be for proportional representation for each state.
This idea of a reset, of rebuilding a better America, is the silver lining to follow the Trump reign. I don’t know what groups you work with now but the coalition needs to be broad and deep to spread the word and build momentum in a clear, compelling fashion that will ignite the imaginations of all our citizenry. People are hungry yo he brought back together in common trust and decency.
Call it We the people
Do it in broad daylight. Invite true Conservatives to join.
Start with addressing the issues of scale and representation in both the legislative and judicial branches. (things that can be done without a Constitutional amendment.)
Love this idea, Matt, and this plan!
This is the work I have been waiting for. We know what we don't want. What future do we want?
I'm very pleased to see this kind of article. You've been accumulating the ideas for this and it seems well thought out. I really look forward to reading this soon. Thank you!
There's a fellow Substacker, dude who goes by the name of GOD, who also came out with a Project 2029 idea, so you're not alone, Matt (plus, I think he likes your Book in the Bible)! :)
As for the "branding," I think it makes it clear that this is the defensive counter-attack against this ghastly crap, as well as feeding off the phrase that's already in people's heads: "Your Project 2025 is killing the country. Our Project 2029 will save it."
This is one of your best columns and ideas…. Title TBD ( I agree that Project 2029 gives too much credence to Project 2025‼️). But let’s also be planning how to oppose the right wing onslaught of “ far left extremism” that they always label us with!
Presumably you are aware of the work done some years ago by a bipartisan group to modify our government to be more representative? It was called "Our Common Purpose" (https://www.amacad.org/ourcommonpurpose/report). Rather than re-invent the wheel, it might be more time-effective to build on the work that was begun here. Common Cause is freaking out about the horrors of an Article V Constitutional Convention, and certainly if it is mismanaged it could be as horrendous as they fear. On the other hand, it might also be a vehicle to implement the likes of the proposals in Our Common Purpose in a more timely fashion. And it would seem to me that there is a safeguard written into Article V, that any changes proposed must be approved by 3/4's of the States. Last I counted (2024 election) there were 18 "blue" States, or roughly 1/3 of the 50, so there is still a buffer.
More recently than Nov. 5, there are 22 Governors who are Democrat, so almost 1/2. :)
You’re asking Democrats to PLAN??? LOL
I’m asking *us* to plan!
This is crucial for success; not only to chart a new beginning, but also to bring in effective and coherent resistance, rather that the scattered, vague reactive texts, emails and blogs those of us outside the inner circle are getting now...as well-intentioned as they may be. Movements, change and passion are fueled by a vision best far more than by fear and moment-to-moment reactivity.
The Democratic party has been living on misplaced assumptions, which many of us stalwarts now question. There are many, many questions to be raised and discussed; how have our existing institutions failed or been perceived as ineffective for those now disengaged? What's the history of that, and what can we learn? What will be most meaningful in the short term AND the long term? Who have been raising alarms and running counter to established assumptions and the associated power structures that got us here? I think of Elizabeth Warren, Robert Reich, Bernie Sanders, AOC and David Hogg for example. They have been persistent and consistent about the hypocrisy we have all been seeing for years. We have not all been blind. I just opened a book written in 1980 by Bertram Gross, entitled "Friendly Fascism..the New Face pf Power in America". Back then, he described the very factors which got us here in chilling detail...and how it can look now. It was hard to read, but important. I hope that that sort of wisdom is at the table, as the group developing "Project 2029" (or whatever it gets named) comes together. It needs to be a very eclectic group, including disaffected conservatives as well as visionary radical thinkers to discover fundamental shared the values we had all built our daily lives around. Inclusion and listening, plus creativity is a key starting point. The wisdom of elders, combined with the passion by the young generation are needed for this effort. Let the learning and agenda mutually shape each other with respectful listening and far less ego. That takes a different sort of courage and wisdom than we have seen (from the outside, at least) for decades.
The other challenge is about restoring contact, connection and messaging in a fragmented information system. It started with handcuffing the FCC (I know NIck Johnson, who had been head when it happened) and led to the likes of Ditto Heads, Sinclair News and Fox News now dominating too many minds with fear, anger and distortions. This website is one place I come. PBS is another. What else can be used to empathize with and bring in fearful, confused listeners? The worst mistake we can make would be to demonize them and dismiss them.