We have a big problem in the United States. It goes deeper than the vast array of serious issues many work tirelessly to fix. At root it's not a political, economic, social or even ecological problem. It is a problem of contradictory beliefs: Namely the belief of some, on the one hand, that the U.S.A. is, or once was, a democracy with a constitution that guarantees that the people lead and the leaders follow; and the belief of others, on the other hand, that the U.S.A. has never experienced democracy and never will.

This session will take another approach in addressing the possibilities for deep social change in U.S.A.. We will take an open-eyed look at the reality of a Constitution that was, from the get-go, a class compromise. We will dig into the ways in which the original Constitution was designed to protect property rights over people's rights, maintain slavery, and keep a lid on genuine democracy. We will also recognize the more progressive elements of the Constitution -- a weak executive branch and less centralized government, the lack of a standing army, the safeguards against imperialism, and most of the Bill of Rights -- and the ways in which those elements have been undermined and violated by those in power. And we will raise up the rich history of progressive movements for democratic constitutional change in the U.S.A..

Specifically, we will work in this session to:

1. Renew our understanding of the struggles that have come before us to democratize, or replace, the U.S. Constitution.

2. Share what others in other countries (Venezuela, South Africa, Boliva, Ecuador, Canada, etc.) have done, or are doing, to democratize their constitutions.

3. Vision elements of a more democratic and inclusive constitution for the U.S.A., and recognize existing movements for democratic constitutional change (i.e. the Voting Rights Amendment, Education is a Right Amendment, War Referendum Amendment, 7th Generation Amendment).

4. Strategize about what steps we should take to involve this knowledge and ideas in the work of existing movements for progressive change in the U.S.A.

Until we fundamentally alter our political and legal ground rules in the direction of justice, peace and self-determination, we won’t make much lasting headway in stopping the current (or next) war, changing budget priorities, ending pro-corporate trade agreements, promoting humane immigration policies, establishing environmental sustainability, electing representatives who are truly representative, bringing decisionmaking down to the local level, or ending judicial supremacy.