Time to "Hit Refresh" on the U.S. Constitution

Citizens' Must Lead the Way

Photo by tom coe on Unsplash

As a activist who has spent decades fighting for justice and human rights, I've come to a stark conclusion: our democracy is running on outdated software. The U.S. Constitution, while revolutionary for its time, desperately needs a refresh for the 21st century. That's why I'm proud to announce the launch of "Hit Refresh" - a bold campaign to reconstruct our Constitution through the power of Citizens' Assemblies.

Let me be clear: this isn't about partisan politics. This is about returning power to where it belongs - in the hands of the American people. Our founding fathers created a radical experiment in democracy, but over centuries, that vision has been corrupted. Today, wealth equals power, and regular citizens have been pushed to the sidelines of their own democracy. It is our right and our moral responsibility to create a new government that ensures the well-being of all citizens and future generations.

A System Frozen in Time

I revere our founding principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, that our Founding Fathers established in the Constitution. But trying to govern a 21st-century superpower with an 18th-century document is like trying to run modern software on a computer from 1787. It's time we acknowledge this fundamental truth.

Think about it. We're living in a world of artificial intelligence, the climate emergency, and global interdependence, yet we're still operating under a system designed when people wrote with quill pens and traveled by horse and buggy. Our Founding Fathers were brilliant, but they couldn't have imagined the challenges we face today. They created a document for their time, not ours.

The signs of democratic decay are everywhere. The Electoral College routinely overrides the popular vote. Dark money floods our political system. Gerrymandering has turned district maps into abstract art. And perhaps most troubling, millions of Americans feel powerless to change any of it. The sad truth is that a majority of U.S. citizens have lost trust in our political leaders and in our democracy.

But here's what gives me hope: When you actually talk to Americans – not politicians, not pundits, but real people – you find something remarkable. We're not nearly as divided as the media would have us believe. Whether I'm in a coffee shop in rural America or at community event in a big city, I hear the same concerns: People want fair representation. They want their votes to matter. They want a government that works for everyone, not just the wealthy and well-connected.

The Magic of Real Dialogue

That's why I'm calling for a bold solution: Citizens' Assemblies. Instead of letting politicians – who benefit from the current system's dysfunction— lead the reform process— let's put it in the hands of regular Americans.

The beauty of Citizens' Assemblies is that they strip away the theatrical polarization that politicians, lobbyists, and media thrive on. When you put real people in a room together – conservatives and liberals, urban and rural, young and old – something magical happens. They listen. They learn. They find common ground.

Through Citizens' Assemblies¹ - randomly selected groups of everyday citizens who can come together to deliberate on our nation's most pressing issues - we can chart a new course. We can ensure that these assemblies won’t be controlled by special interests or partisan ideologues. They can and will represent America in all its beautiful diversity: teachers and truck drivers, nurses and small business owners, young and old, conservatives and liberals, from every corner of our nation.

I've seen the transformative power of citizen engagement firsthand. When regular people come together, set aside their differences, and genuinely listen to each other, remarkable things happen. Solutions emerge that professional politicians never considered. Compromise becomes possible. Trust is rebuilt.

The Economist² video below shows how Citizens’ Assemblies are rebuilding trust in politics around the world!

Let’s “Hit Refresh” on President’s Day, February 17, 2025

In one week from today, on February 17, 2025 - Presidents' Day - #unifyUSA is launching a new patriotic citizens’ movement calling for Citizens’ Assemblies to Refresh the Constitution. Our goal is ambitious but achievable: to create a refreshed Constitution by July 4, 2026, one that truly serves all Americans. This isn't just another policy proposal - it's a movement to renew and reclaim our democratic heritage.

The time for timid reforms has passed. We need a constitutional reset, and it must come from the bottom up. That's why I'm calling on every American who believes in democracy to join this movement. Host local dialogues in your community with family, friends, and your neighbors. Advocate for Citizens' Assemblies in your city or state. Share our message on social media. Together, we can build the groundswell needed for national change.

Ways for You to Lead

#unifyUSA is a movement full of leaders, so here are some first steps to lead:

• Learn about the opportunity, our right and moral responsibility citizens’ have to launch Citizens’ Assemblies to refresh our Constitution.

• Advocate Local Citizens’ Assembly to Hit Refresh The Constitution³ for as proving grounds for a national movement to refresh the Constitution.

• Organize local dialogues, bring together citizens’ to deliberate together by starting-up to experience Citizens' Assemblies at local and state⁴ levels in your community, at your school, or in your city with the goal of preparing to participate in local, regional, or at a National Peoples’ Assembly.

• Organizations, networks, coalitions, and movements can endorse the #unifyUSA movement here.

• Join Movement Leaders to Learn More:

  • Wednesday, Feb 19, 2:00 PM EST: Register for Zoom Here

  • Thursday, Feb 20, 2:00 PM EST: Register for Zoom Here

Some will say this is impossible. They'll claim that regular citizens can't handle such complex issues. But I've seen the wisdom of crowds in action. I've witnessed the thoughtful deliberation that emerges when people are given the time, information, and respect they deserve. The American people are ready for this responsibility.

This Presidents' Day, as we honor the visionaries who founded our nation, let's also honor their spirit of bold democratic experimentation. Next week, visit unify-usa.org to learn how you can be part of this historic movement. The future of American democracy isn't in the hands of politicians or power brokers - it's in yours.

Our Constitution begins with "We the People." It's time to make those words real again.

---

Dr. Paul Zeitz is the Founder of #unifyUSA, a citizens' movement dedicated to refresh the U.S. constitution through Citizens’ Assemblies and author of Revolutionary Optimism: 7 Steps for Living as a Love-Centered Activist.

1. Source: Leadership Now Project

2. Source: Economist YouTube

3. Source: DemocracyNext

4. Source: Public Democracy L.A.