Why Democracy Requires Renewal | Michael Dimock | TED

What happened 250 years ago was a spark What happened 250 years ago was a spark that ignited the world. that ignited the world. that ignited the world. When the founders articulated the When the founders articulated the When the founders articulated the principles of democracy and proceeded to principles of democracy and proceeded to principles of democracy and proceeded to fight for and win them, fight for and win them, fight for and win them, it inspired democratic conversations it inspired democratic conversations it inspired democratic conversations around the globe. around the globe. around the globe. Now, almost all of us can remember Now, almost all of us can remember Now, almost all of us can remember those inalienable rights identified at those inalienable rights identified at those inalienable rights identified at the start of that Declaration of the start of that Declaration of the start of that Declaration of Independence, right? Life, liberty, the Independence, right? Life, liberty, the Independence, right? Life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness. If you remember pursuit of happiness. If you remember pursuit of happiness. If you remember your civics class, that next sentence your civics class, that next sentence your civics class, that next sentence was arguably the more important one. was arguably the more important one. was arguably the more important one. Because that's when they go on to say Because that's when they go on to say Because that's when they go on to say that governments exist to secure those that governments exist to secure those that governments exist to secure those rights and that governments derive their rights and that governments derive their rights and that governments derive their power from power from power from the consent of the governed. the consent of the governed. the consent of the governed. Right? In 1776, that was the proverbial Right? In 1776, that was the proverbial Right? In 1776, that was the proverbial shot heard around the world, right? shot heard around the world, right? shot heard around the world, right? And And And their audacious act of democratic their audacious act of democratic their audacious act of democratic imagination imagination imagination also inspired a particular form of civic also inspired a particular form of civic also inspired a particular form of civic pride and identity in this country. This pride and identity in this country. This pride and identity in this country. This is a country united around common is a country united around common is a country united around common principles, not a common ruler, a common principles, not a common ruler, a common principles, not a common ruler, a common history, a common faith, a common creed.

history, a common faith, a common creed. history, a common faith, a common creed. In a way, what binds us is this very In a way, what binds us is this very In a way, what binds us is this very idea that this nation can be, hopes to idea that this nation can be, hopes to idea that this nation can be, hopes to be, be, be, an inspiration to future generations and an inspiration to future generations and an inspiration to future generations and a beacon to the world. a beacon to the world. a beacon to the world. What we sometimes forget though is that What we sometimes forget though is that What we sometimes forget though is that this system was never meant to be this system was never meant to be this system was never meant to be static. static. static. The founders didn't hand us a finished The founders didn't hand us a finished The founders didn't hand us a finished product. They handed us an ongoing product. They handed us an ongoing product. They handed us an ongoing project that requires engagement and project that requires engagement and project that requires engagement and creativity from one generation to the creativity from one generation to the creativity from one generation to the next. next. next. Right? Right? Right? So, our responsibility is to carry that So, our responsibility is to carry that So, our responsibility is to carry that democratic imagination forward to make democratic imagination forward to make democratic imagination forward to make sure that this democratic republic sure that this democratic republic sure that this democratic republic doesn't become static, right? Or stuck, doesn't become static, right? Or stuck, doesn't become static, right? Or stuck, or rigid, or even cynical. or rigid, or even cynical. or rigid, or even cynical. So, why am I standing here [laughter] So, why am I standing here [laughter] So, why am I standing here [laughter] today? today? today? I'm at the Pew Research Center, I'm at the Pew Research Center, I'm at the Pew Research Center, and we care deeply about understanding and we care deeply about understanding and we care deeply about understanding where Americans are and how they're where Americans are and how they're where Americans are and how they're thinking. And to do that, we ask people thinking. And to do that, we ask people thinking. And to do that, we ask people a lot of questions.

a lot of questions. a lot of questions. And we don't take that process lightly. And we don't take that process lightly. And we don't take that process lightly. We believe that when we ask people to We believe that when we ask people to We believe that when we ask people to offer us their views and values and offer us their views and values and offer us their views and values and opinions and concerns, we're asking you opinions and concerns, we're asking you opinions and concerns, we're asking you to give us something precious, something to give us something precious, something to give us something precious, something private, right? And so, our obligation private, right? And so, our obligation private, right? And so, our obligation is to listen with respect and to report is to listen with respect and to report is to listen with respect and to report out on what we hear with care and with out on what we hear with care and with out on what we hear with care and with clarity. And so, what brings me here to clarity. And so, what brings me here to clarity. And so, what brings me here to share is that share is that share is that what we're hearing from Americans what we're hearing from Americans what we're hearing from Americans recently is pretty dark. It's a public recently is pretty dark. It's a public recently is pretty dark. It's a public that feels scared and stuck and divided. that feels scared and stuck and divided. that feels scared and stuck and divided. But, when we listen even more closely, But, when we listen even more closely, But, when we listen even more closely, we hear a determination and a readiness we hear a determination and a readiness we hear a determination and a readiness for innovation in the voice of Americans for innovation in the voice of Americans for innovation in the voice of Americans that echoes that spirit of the founders, that echoes that spirit of the founders, that echoes that spirit of the founders, right? And I think offers a path right? And I think offers a path right? And I think offers a path forward. forward. forward. So, let me start So, let me start So, let me start with the dark part, right? Where are we with the dark part, right? Where are we with the dark part, right? Where are we today? What is this public mood? And today? What is this public mood? And today? What is this public mood? And bring a little bit of data behind it.

bring a little bit of data behind it. bring a little bit of data behind it. Americans are feeling sort of stuck in a Americans are feeling sort of stuck in a Americans are feeling sort of stuck in a doom loop of sorts, and it's made up of doom loop of sorts, and it's made up of doom loop of sorts, and it's made up of three key components, three trends. And three key components, three trends. And three key components, three trends. And the first, I almost don't need to say the first, I almost don't need to say the first, I almost don't need to say out loud, is partisan polarization, out loud, is partisan polarization, out loud, is partisan polarization, right? We no longer just disagree over right? We no longer just disagree over right? We no longer just disagree over issues and which candidates can best issues and which candidates can best issues and which candidates can best lead us forward. We've grown to, at a lead us forward. We've grown to, at a lead us forward. We've grown to, at a civic level, mistrust and even use civic level, mistrust and even use civic level, mistrust and even use dehumanizing language about each other. dehumanizing language about each other. dehumanizing language about each other. And America really stands apart globally And America really stands apart globally And America really stands apart globally for this level of polarization. We for this level of polarization. We for this level of polarization. We surveyed around the world during and surveyed around the world during and surveyed around the world during and after the pandemic, just to use one after the pandemic, just to use one after the pandemic, just to use one recent example we remember. And recent example we remember. And recent example we remember. And throughout, the American public was the throughout, the American public was the throughout, the American public was the most or among the most divided, whether most or among the most divided, whether most or among the most divided, whether it was the outbreak, vaccination, it was the outbreak, vaccination, it was the outbreak, vaccination, government responses, civil society. government responses, civil society. government responses, civil society. And after the worst of the pandemic was And after the worst of the pandemic was And after the worst of the pandemic was over, 81% of Americans said that that over, 81% of Americans said that that over, 81% of Americans said that that collective experience just drove us collective experience just drove us collective experience just drove us further apart. That's more than in any further apart. That's more than in any further apart. That's more than in any other country that we surveyed.

other country that we surveyed. other country that we surveyed. The second trend in this is we become The second trend in this is we become The second trend in this is we become more disconnected from each other. Basic more disconnected from each other. Basic more disconnected from each other. Basic trust in our neighbors has fallen over trust in our neighbors has fallen over trust in our neighbors has fallen over 40 years. And Americans have come to 40 years. And Americans have come to 40 years. And Americans have come to doubt the very wisdom of the crowds, doubt the very wisdom of the crowds, doubt the very wisdom of the crowds, right? The collective wisdom that really right? The collective wisdom that really right? The collective wisdom that really is the foundation of democracy. And is the foundation of democracy. And is the foundation of democracy. And again, America stands apart from other again, America stands apart from other again, America stands apart from other countries in this sense of countries in this sense of countries in this sense of disconnection. Last year we surveyed disconnection. Last year we surveyed disconnection. Last year we surveyed people in 24 countries around the world, people in 24 countries around the world, people in 24 countries around the world, and American public was the least likely and American public was the least likely and American public was the least likely to say they feel connected to their to say they feel connected to their to say they feel connected to their fellow citizens in their country. And fellow citizens in their country. And fellow citizens in their country. And among the least likely to say even that among the least likely to say even that among the least likely to say even that they feel connected to people in their they feel connected to people in their they feel connected to people in their local communities. local communities. local communities. And the third factor in this is that And the third factor in this is that And the third factor in this is that many Americans have become come to many Americans have become come to many Americans have become come to believe that believe that believe that our political system is just our political system is just our political system is just fundamentally flawed. Basic trust in the fundamentally flawed. Basic trust in the fundamentally flawed. Basic trust in the government to do what's right, it's government to do what's right, it's government to do what's right, it's vacillated, but it's just fallen and vacillated, but it's just fallen and vacillated, but it's just fallen and flatlined for over 20 years.

flatlined for over 20 years. flatlined for over 20 years. And Americans today are more likely to And Americans today are more likely to And Americans today are more likely to believe their elected officials care believe their elected officials care believe their elected officials care more about winning those partisan more about winning those partisan more about winning those partisan skirmishes and even enriching themselves skirmishes and even enriching themselves skirmishes and even enriching themselves than they care about the act of than they care about the act of than they care about the act of listening and representing their listening and representing their listening and representing their constituents. And these three factors, constituents. And these three factors, constituents. And these three factors, partisan polarization and civic partisan polarization and civic partisan polarization and civic disconnection and cynicism about the disconnection and cynicism about the disconnection and cynicism about the political system, they all sort of feed political system, they all sort of feed political system, they all sort of feed off of each other. They they each off of each other. They they each off of each other. They they each reinforce the other and they're reinforce the other and they're reinforce the other and they're accelerated by a fragmented media accelerated by a fragmented media accelerated by a fragmented media ecosystem, by an algorithmically driven ecosystem, by an algorithmically driven ecosystem, by an algorithmically driven digital ecosystem to the point where digital ecosystem to the point where digital ecosystem to the point where what Americans are telling us they just what Americans are telling us they just what Americans are telling us they just feel the country's the centrifugal feel the country's the centrifugal feel the country's the centrifugal forces, right? That we're just getting forces, right? That we're just getting forces, right? That we're just getting pulled farther and farther apart. That pulled farther and farther apart. That pulled farther and farther apart. That the the common bonds feel strained. the the common bonds feel strained. the the common bonds feel strained. As we came into this semiquincentennial As we came into this semiquincentennial As we came into this semiquincentennial year, year, year, 59% of Americans versus 40% told us 59% of Americans versus 40% told us 59% of Americans versus 40% told us that this country's best days are behind that this country's best days are behind that this country's best days are behind us, us, us, not in front of us. 59 to 40. I don't know. How how would you answer I don't know. How how would you answer that question?

that question? that question? And if if your And if if your And if if your thinking is maybe behind us, like what thinking is maybe behind us, like what thinking is maybe behind us, like what does it take to does it take to does it take to to turn that lens, right? to turn that lens, right? to turn that lens, right? I mean, it's easy to get discouraged I mean, it's easy to get discouraged I mean, it's easy to get discouraged and depressed even. and depressed even. and depressed even. The question is, what do we do The question is, what do we do The question is, what do we do about it? And in my experience, that about it? And in my experience, that about it? And in my experience, that question almost always starts with each question almost always starts with each question almost always starts with each of us. of us. of us. Um so, let me offer three quick things. Um so, let me offer three quick things. Um so, let me offer three quick things. The first, The first, The first, I might see a little glow off of a I might see a little glow off of a I might see a little glow off of a couple faces in the dark theater. We couple faces in the dark theater. We couple faces in the dark theater. We probably should put the phones down, probably should put the phones down, probably should put the phones down, right? They're not helping. right? They're not helping. right? They're not helping. Um and maybe the way to think about it Um and maybe the way to think about it Um and maybe the way to think about it is that our addiction to or commitment is that our addiction to or commitment is that our addiction to or commitment to, you know, whatever language works to, you know, whatever language works to, you know, whatever language works for you, for you, for you, um um um those devices is those devices is those devices is really taking away our most valuable really taking away our most valuable really taking away our most valuable asset in our communities. It's our asset in our communities. It's our asset in our communities. It's our attention, right? Our our ability to attention, right? Our our ability to attention, right? Our our ability to connect at a human level. And that gets connect at a human level. And that gets connect at a human level. And that gets me to my second point me to my second point me to my second point is we do need to be talking to each is we do need to be talking to each is we do need to be talking to each other more.

other more. other more. And in a way, the American public today And in a way, the American public today And in a way, the American public today has become afraid to have conversations has become afraid to have conversations has become afraid to have conversations about their democracy about their democracy about their democracy because because because we've allowed the frame to be set we've allowed the frame to be set we've allowed the frame to be set around our grievances and our fears and around our grievances and our fears and around our grievances and our fears and our differences. But there's a different our differences. But there's a different our differences. But there's a different kind of conversation we can be having. kind of conversation we can be having. kind of conversation we can be having. It's what we're here for today. It's what we're here for today. It's what we're here for today. It's about our hopes for this country It's about our hopes for this country It's about our hopes for this country and what we can be doing together. Now, and what we can be doing together. Now, and what we can be doing together. Now, I grant you that's still a hard I grant you that's still a hard I grant you that's still a hard conversation to start, especially with conversation to start, especially with conversation to start, especially with someone you don't know. someone you don't know. someone you don't know. But nobody can take that small step but But nobody can take that small step but But nobody can take that small step but each of us, and that's what becomes each of us, and that's what becomes each of us, and that's what becomes cumulative. cumulative. cumulative. And then third, we have to remember that And then third, we have to remember that And then third, we have to remember that solutions are possible. solutions are possible. solutions are possible. Right? That the Constitution of this Right? That the Constitution of this Right? That the Constitution of this nation, signed just a mile from here in nation, signed just a mile from here in nation, signed just a mile from here in 1787, gives us the right. It It actually 1787, gives us the right. It It actually 1787, gives us the right. It It actually gives us the obligation to take things gives us the obligation to take things gives us the obligation to take things into our own hands. Because the into our own hands. Because the into our own hands. Because the founders, in all their wisdom and all founders, in all their wisdom and all founders, in all their wisdom and all their flaws, understood that when any their flaws, understood that when any their flaws, understood that when any system of government becomes static, it system of government becomes static, it system of government becomes static, it becomes stuck. Right? So, we have to becomes stuck. Right? So, we have to becomes stuck. Right? So, we have to remember that our democracy is dynamic.

remember that our democracy is dynamic. remember that our democracy is dynamic. And what I mean by that is not just that And what I mean by that is not just that And what I mean by that is not just that our democracy has to our democracy has to our democracy has to figure out how to address emerging figure out how to address emerging figure out how to address emerging issues and technologies, right? To be issues and technologies, right? To be issues and technologies, right? To be sure, the founders, I'm pretty sure, the founders, I'm pretty sure, the founders, I'm pretty convinced, couldn't imagine this thing convinced, couldn't imagine this thing convinced, couldn't imagine this thing we're calling artificial intelligence we're calling artificial intelligence we're calling artificial intelligence and offer us advice about how we should and offer us advice about how we should and offer us advice about how we should think about what it means for our think about what it means for our think about what it means for our society, for our politics, for our society, for our politics, for our society, for our politics, for our economy. I mean, that that We're going economy. I mean, that that We're going economy. I mean, that that We're going to have to figure that one out. to have to figure that one out. to have to figure that one out. I'm actually talking about something I'm actually talking about something I'm actually talking about something more fundamental, more fundamental, more fundamental, which is that the founders which is that the founders which is that the founders understood that any system of government understood that any system of government understood that any system of government that's carefully balancing our liberties that's carefully balancing our liberties that's carefully balancing our liberties and governance, and governance, and governance, if left still for too long, sort of if left still for too long, sort of if left still for too long, sort of becomes trapped. So, take partisanship. becomes trapped. So, take partisanship. becomes trapped. So, take partisanship. The founders couldn't have imagined the The founders couldn't have imagined the The founders couldn't have imagined the Republican and Democratic parties of Republican and Democratic parties of Republican and Democratic parties of 2026, but they absolutely understood 2026, but they absolutely understood 2026, but they absolutely understood that political polarization was that political polarization was that political polarization was fundamental. It was going to happen in fundamental. It was going to happen in fundamental. It was going to happen in any democratic system and needed to be any democratic system and needed to be any democratic system and needed to be attended to or it would become attended to or it would become attended to or it would become dangerous. dangerous. dangerous. They couldn't have fully understood how They couldn't have fully understood how They couldn't have fully understood how large the population of this country large the population of this country large the population of this country would grow and its distribution and its would grow and its distribution and its would grow and its distribution and its diversity. But they absolutely diversity. But they absolutely diversity. But they absolutely understood that understood that understood that how we how we how we take the voice of that public and take the voice of that public and take the voice of that public and convert it into effective representation convert it into effective representation convert it into effective representation through elections was going to require through elections was going to require through elections was going to require constant attention and adaptation or it constant attention and adaptation or it constant attention and adaptation or it would get trapped or even hijacked. I would get trapped or even hijacked. I would get trapped or even hijacked. I mean, look at what we're doing with mean, look at what we're doing with mean, look at what we're doing with redistricting today. Right?

redistricting today. Right? redistricting today. Right? They couldn't have fully understood how They couldn't have fully understood how They couldn't have fully understood how huge this country's economy would be and huge this country's economy would be and huge this country's economy would be and the amount of money in our system and it the amount of money in our system and it the amount of money in our system and it and how that would influence politics, and how that would influence politics, and how that would influence politics, but they did understand and you can see but they did understand and you can see but they did understand and you can see it in their writing that money was a it in their writing that money was a it in their writing that money was a fundamental challenge that every fundamental challenge that every fundamental challenge that every democracy was going to have to balance democracy was going to have to balance democracy was going to have to balance if it cared about representation. And in if it cared about representation. And in if it cared about representation. And in all of these spaces, they never thought all of these spaces, they never thought all of these spaces, they never thought that there could be one solution because that there could be one solution because that there could be one solution because every time you fix a problem, another every time you fix a problem, another every time you fix a problem, another problem arises. That's not a flaw. problem arises. That's not a flaw. problem arises. That's not a flaw. That's the nature of a democratic That's the nature of a democratic That's the nature of a democratic republic. That's what we signed on for. republic. That's what we signed on for. republic. That's what we signed on for. Right? Right? Right? So So So we can all think about our we can all think about our we can all think about our biggest problems with government today biggest problems with government today biggest problems with government today but I'm here to also say that we can but I'm here to also say that we can but I'm here to also say that we can think of solutions. Last year, we think of solutions. Last year, we think of solutions. Last year, we interviewed Americans across the country interviewed Americans across the country interviewed Americans across the country and asked them, "What would you do to and asked them, "What would you do to and asked them, "What would you do to fix our political system?" fix our political system?" fix our political system?" Boy, did they have a lot to say, right? Boy, did they have a lot to say, right? Boy, did they have a lot to say, right? Um at the biggest level a vast majority Um at the biggest level a vast majority Um at the biggest level a vast majority of Americans are willing to engage with of Americans are willing to engage with of Americans are willing to engage with major reform to our political system out major reform to our political system out major reform to our political system out of scale actually with other countries of scale actually with other countries of scale actually with other countries of our means.

of our means. of our means. Their priorities would be improving the Their priorities would be improving the Their priorities would be improving the quality of representation, reducing the quality of representation, reducing the quality of representation, reducing the influence of money in our political influence of money in our political influence of money in our political system, diffusing that negative partisan system, diffusing that negative partisan system, diffusing that negative partisan tone that our dialogue just gravitates tone that our dialogue just gravitates tone that our dialogue just gravitates towards. And they're willing to engage towards. And they're willing to engage towards. And they're willing to engage with conversations about a whole host of with conversations about a whole host of with conversations about a whole host of reforms from long-standing ideas like reforms from long-standing ideas like reforms from long-standing ideas like term limits for members of Congress to term limits for members of Congress to term limits for members of Congress to newer ideas like age limits for elected newer ideas like age limits for elected newer ideas like age limits for elected officials or judges or getting rid of officials or judges or getting rid of officials or judges or getting rid of the Electoral College or other electoral the Electoral College or other electoral the Electoral College or other electoral reforms. There are so many ideas out reforms. There are so many ideas out reforms. There are so many ideas out there that a majority of Americans are there that a majority of Americans are there that a majority of Americans are ready to think about. ready to think about. ready to think about. Now, I'm not here to advocate for any of Now, I'm not here to advocate for any of Now, I'm not here to advocate for any of those particular reforms. Each of them those particular reforms. Each of them those particular reforms. Each of them can be debated for their pros and their can be debated for their pros and their can be debated for their pros and their cons. cons. cons. What I'm here to say is we really need What I'm here to say is we really need What I'm here to say is we really need to be having those debates. And we need to be having those debates. And we need to be having those debates. And we need to take them seriously. to take them seriously. to take them seriously. And we need to have the courage to be And we need to have the courage to be And we need to have the courage to be willing to change a political system willing to change a political system willing to change a political system that a majority of Americans feel is that a majority of Americans feel is that a majority of Americans feel is obviously broken. obviously broken. obviously broken. When we sit here in 2026 When we sit here in 2026 When we sit here in 2026 and we haven't our society, our public and we haven't our society, our public and we haven't our society, our public hasn't engaged in a conversation about hasn't engaged in a conversation about hasn't engaged in a conversation about constitutional amendment in 55 years constitutional amendment in 55 years constitutional amendment in 55 years since we lowered the voting age from 21 since we lowered the voting age from 21 since we lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. How many people here remember to 18. How many people here remember to 18. How many people here remember that conversation? Right? It was a while that conversation? Right? It was a while that conversation? Right? It was a while ago.

ago. ago. The previous time our Constitution went The previous time our Constitution went The previous time our Constitution went unamended for a stretch that long was in unamended for a stretch that long was in unamended for a stretch that long was in the lead up to the Civil War. the lead up to the Civil War. the lead up to the Civil War. We have to remember that our democracy We have to remember that our democracy We have to remember that our democracy is meant to be dynamic and through our is meant to be dynamic and through our is meant to be dynamic and through our action. action. action. But we've sort of become so afraid of But we've sort of become so afraid of But we've sort of become so afraid of what could be worse, particularly could what could be worse, particularly could what could be worse, particularly could it benefit the other side, right? it benefit the other side, right? it benefit the other side, right? That we've stopped really imagining how That we've stopped really imagining how That we've stopped really imagining how we can make it better. we can make it better. we can make it better. So, I want to go back to the Declaration So, I want to go back to the Declaration So, I want to go back to the Declaration of Independence because after of Independence because after of Independence because after enumerating those inalienable rights and enumerating those inalienable rights and enumerating those inalienable rights and after asserting that authority comes after asserting that authority comes after asserting that authority comes from the governed, they go on to say from the governed, they go on to say from the governed, they go on to say that whenever any system of government that whenever any system of government that whenever any system of government becomes destructive to those ends, it is becomes destructive to those ends, it is becomes destructive to those ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to the right of the people to alter or to the right of the people to alter or to abolish that government. abolish that government. abolish that government. Now, in the context of 1776, there's no Now, in the context of 1776, there's no Now, in the context of 1776, there's no doubt that they were saying they had no doubt that they were saying they had no doubt that they were saying they had no choice but to abolish the system they choice but to abolish the system they choice but to abolish the system they were living under and start from were living under and start from were living under and start from scratch. But it was their hope scratch. But it was their hope scratch. But it was their hope that future generations could alter and that future generations could alter and that future generations could alter and iterate on the framework they built.

iterate on the framework they built. iterate on the framework they built. The solutions are not just going to drop The solutions are not just going to drop The solutions are not just going to drop down magically on us. It's going to take down magically on us. It's going to take down magically on us. It's going to take hard work. hard work. hard work. But if this country is going to stay But if this country is going to stay But if this country is going to stay whole, is going to thrive, is going to whole, is going to thrive, is going to whole, is going to thrive, is going to be an inspiration for future be an inspiration for future be an inspiration for future generations, generations, generations, we have to be willing to commit to make we have to be willing to commit to make we have to be willing to commit to make those same those same those same brave leaps of democratic imagination. brave leaps of democratic imagination. brave leaps of democratic imagination. Thank you. >> [applause] >> [applause] >> Thank you.