09/14/2021
The trillion dollar military can't beat a band of terrorists carrying AK-47s riding around in pickup trucks .
We must end this era of pointless-endless war and start a new one.
I, Alan Dechert, an award-winning engineer at Intel, chairman of the Committee for Open Source Global Governance (OSGG), and heterodox constitutional law theorist, am the chief architect of this constitutional text.
I am asking for help refining the text. Beginning an important phase in a software development project, the code might be described as "feature complete" and "alpha quality." I am asking for your help to bring the code up to beta quality.
We will treat the text as we treat major computer software development projects, dealing with "problem reports" as they come in from near and far in a systematic way to bring the code up to Beta. Next comes Release Candidate 1, then RC2, and so on until perfect (or as perfect as we can make it).
My work on this idea goes back decades. I began serious discussions with legal scholars about five years ago. I never felt I was qualified to write any of it. I intended to work with a few scholars who might like the idea and would be willing to contribute some of their expertise -- even if they believed it could never be enacted.
Most of all, I wanted a suitable scholar to take charge of it. I was unable to recruit anyone for this role, and wound up writing a great deal of it myself. A few scholars contributed some insights and even some text. So, I -- and OSGG -- will retain ownership of it sink or swim.
I am passing along this message to you asking for your help. The links* are to the document in ODT format (Open Document Text) and PDF**
The document contains 3 constitutions: the existing text for the USA side-by-side our proposed replacement text; and text for a proposed international sovereign, the Human Federation.
I am not interested in handwaves (I'm 69 and not planning on attending law school... I did consider that one but decided against). My inbox has had its fill of them and I don't save them anymore. I would most appreciate it if you would mark up the document with any insights you might have. Can you provide any amendments? (at this point, we would want to stuff them into the body of the text without actually calling them "amendments"). Minor corrections? Do you know where any of the specific words or phrases come from?
I've tried to identify some of the origins, but I don't really know that much except for what I wrote. A few clauses were provided by scholars like Michael Dorf, Dan Farber, and Shubha Ghosh. I've noted that in the document, although I may have missed a few things. I haven't bothered to add notes to the existing US Constitution although I want to do that. I'm pretty sure James Madison wrote the first 10 amendments -- and the nearly forgotten 27th amendment -- but haven't gotten around to mentioning that. I tried to incorporate J P Stevens' 6 amendments (although I eliminated the 2nd altogether). One clause is from Emmanuel Kant's 1795 essay on Perpetual Peace.
Here are some essential features of the document:
• USA's World Cop role would be handed over to this international sovereign, with simultaneous adoption of two new constitutions
• worldwide ban on nuclear power as well as nuclear weapons.
• ownership of military weapons banned (Human Federation will collect them and keep what it needs for its mission)
• Unsustainable practices curtailed.
• How humans will make use of space; Outer Space Treaty subsumed; no "space force;" mineral resources in space can be produced and made available to humans in a responsible legal manner; Luna and Mars to become countries.
• New articles specifically covering equality in the US constitution as well as the international one.
• Strengthening local government
• Health Care becomes a human right in the US; Roe v. Wade memorialized in clause 5 written by Michael Dorf as I requested
• Peace becomes a human right, as spelled out in US constitution as well as international constitution
• voting in the US becomes mandatory with greatly enhanced voting processes
• One new Supreme Court Justice installed every two years (effectively defining an 18-yr term)
• term limits in US Congress (24 yrs combined service)
• Education becomes a human right
• Plural Executive -- Attorney General becomes elected executive with 10-yr term (process is spelled out)
A common response is we're trying to do too much. However, due to very long trends and a long string of major events, it's time to revolt. This is a unique time. The World Cop can't stop a band of guys in pickup trucks carrying AK47s. We have cowboys in space. Climate. There remains serious doubts about the voting systems. Something has to give. We can do this now and it may be the last time for centuries this can be done again.
Some will say this is utopian dreaming. Wrong. Utopia literally means nowhere. Utopia is used in strawman arguments. There is no reason we can't have a much better system of global governance and US governance. Instead of utopia, we can call it Ecotopia if you prefer (Ernest Callenbach, my friend and cohort many years ago in Berkeley, used this word).
OSGG can be a complete success. It's not easy to understand just how, but I know how. It's as feasible as open source voting and renewable energy... and those things are becoming law as we speak, first in CA then the USA, then the world.
Please, will you get in touch with me asap? There is a lot to discuss that I dare not attempt in one email. We need your help.
Alan Dechert, (916) 792-1784
* Here are the links to the documents I mentioned.
https://theanswer.fyi/constitutions.pdf
https://theanswer.fyi/comparisonsource.odt
(depending on your device and software, the odt file may not automatically open up. It's there and will download. It was written using Libreoffice, which is free and open source and runs on most anything)
** You can get to all the content on our site from
https://theanswer.fyi/frequently-asked-questions/
You can also see the intro at https://theanswer.fyi/ knowing that there is an Easter Egg opened by clicking on our logo (people making pledge requests as explained in our FAQ)
07/16/2018
Can we abolish war? Here's THE ANSWER on that. Please watch and share the video.
https://youtu.be/tZ9GIBlem6g
THE ANSWER
Episode 1, Peace as a Human Right, of weekly series by Alan Dechert ( [email protected] )
Today's (July 5, 2018) video is about 17 minutes
Here are several documents referred to in the presentation:
TWO INTERLOCKING CONSTITUTIONS (drafts) -- ONE FOR THE U.S. (pages 1-20) AND ONE FOR THE WORLD (pages 21-32) see this page for this and other documents referenced here https://tinyurl.com/u2m5maj
THE ELECTION TRANSPARENCY AND SECURITY ACT OF 2018 (now targeted for 2020)
e-tas.pdf
Emerging, our current age, the Solar Era, is a roll-up of all the ages that have been seen in the last 230 years. Each of these developments have had significant impact on our system of governance, which authors 230 years ago had no knowledge.
1. Industrial Age (citizens were all farmers before)
2. Age of fossil fuels (non-biological non-renewable energy)
3. Electronic Age
4. World War (and WMD)
5. Automobiles
6. Flight
7. Television
8. Space Age
9. Racial Equality
10. Computer age
11. Internet
12. Information age
13. Social media
14. Women
15. Smartphones
16. Robotics (emerging)
17. Solar Era (emerging)
18. Cryptocurrency (emerging)
Some large current issues impacting public policy that have been brewing all the while:
- climate change
- population
- privacy
Two MacArthur speeches
--------------------------
1955 macarthur-booklet.pdf (quote was from this one... see last paragraph on page 7)
1961 macarthur-1961-booklet.pdf
copied from, http://www.macarthurmemorial.org
Global Challenges Foundation (GCF) New Shape Contest
----------------------------
GCF recently awarded three contest entries $600,000. Two of the three focused on reforming the United Nations. See https://globalchallenges.org/
OSGG submission to GCF New Shape Contest (9250 words, 25 references):
The OPEN SOURCE GLOBAL GOVERNANCE PROPOSAL (contest entry. 9250 words, 25 references, and a diagram)
osgg.pdf
osgg.jpg
episode1
07/16/2018
https://youtu.be/Kh6nl1GmiwQ
See this folder for the letters referred to in the vid
https://tinyurl.com/u2m5maj
In summary, we ask for states and countries who want to participate in the process to send us a letter with a contact person we can work with.
episode2TheLetters
12/04/2017
Global Challenges Foundation has launched their Educators' Challenge contest. This is supplemental to their New Shape Prize contest which closed on September 30 (results known in the Spring).
They report receiving 2702 entries from 122 countries. Ours was one of them!
You don't have to wait until the Spring to get involved. The Educators' Challenge is open now. You don't need to have a formal teaching role to qualify. Anyone with an audience has a chance to win $5,000.
To learn more about our New Shape Prize entry, write to [email protected]
To learn all about Educators' Challenge, visit
https://globalchallenges.org/en/our-work/educators-challenge
09/09/2017
100 FACEBOOK PAGES FOR PEOPLE'S CONSTITUTION
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As of Sep 9th 2017, we have set up the 100 pages we think we will need to be successful. We consider these to be places on the Internet where formative delegations can develop and eventually obtain the approvals we need.
To become law, 38 US states will be needed to ratify, and the Human Federation constitution calls for 40 charter members. We may not be able to get all 100 to ratify, but we think we can get enough. The 50 countries listed here include about 78% of the world's population.
We are recruiting editors local to the US state or country. For countries outside the US, we want at least one who is fluent in English as well as the local language(s). About 15 pages have editors including 4 in the Middle East (Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and Palestine).
Of the 6600 likes we have on all the pages so far, most (by far) have been from people outside the US. Even states in the US are getting some likes from people outside the US. Wisconsin has the most likes in the US, with 135 (many likes from non-US). Iraq has the most outside the US, with 341 currently. People in Africa and the Middle East have been most responsive.
For countries outside the US, typically we place a $5 ad asking if they want to see establishment of an international peace keeping sovereign. Normally, this will get us more than the 25 likes that facebook requires to enable the short url (27 pages still need some likes to get to 25... 4 non-US and 23 US).
If you want to help with this, please like the pages with the long URLs. If you want to become involved, let us know.
Thank you!
COUNTRIES
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Algeria https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.dza/
Australia https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-Australia-129020414391789/
Bangladesh https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.bgd/
Belgium https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.bel
Botswana https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.bwa/
Brazil https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.bra/
Canada https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.can/
Chile https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.chl/
China https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.chn/
Democratic Republic of the Congo https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.cod/
Denmark https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.dnk/
Egypt https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.egy/
Ethiopia https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.eth/
France https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.fra/
Gabon https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.gab/
The Gambia https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.gmb/
Germany https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.deu/
Holland https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.nld/
Hong Kong https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.hkg/
Iceland https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.isl/
India https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.ind/
Indonesia https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.idn/
Italy https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-Italy-1082785725189747/
Iran https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.irn/
Iraq https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.irq/
Israel https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.isr/
Japan https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.jpn/
Jordan https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-Jordan-122120175182182/
Kenya https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.ken/
Libya https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.lby/
Mexico https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.mex/
Morocco https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.mar/
Namibia https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.nam/
Nigeria https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.nga/
Norway https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.nor/
Pakistan https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.pak/
Palestine https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.pse/
Russia https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.rus/
Senegal https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.sen/
Somalia https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.som/
South Africa https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.zaf/
Spain https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.esp/
Sri Lanka https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-Sri-Lanka-238655949989901/
Sweden https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.swe/
Syria https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.syr/
Tunisia https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.tun/
Turkey https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.tur/
Uganda https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.uga/
UK https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.gbr/
USA https://facebook.com/hf.discuss/
US STATES
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Alabama https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.al/
Alaska https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.ak/
Arizona https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.az
Arkansas https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.ar
California https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.ca/
Colorado https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.co/
Connecticut https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.ct/
Delaware https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.de/
Florida https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.fl/
Georgia https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.ga/
Hawaii https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.hi/
Idaho https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.id/
Illinois https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-Illinois-313902885725404/
Indiana https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-Indiana-1787757454870792/
Iowa https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-Iowa-148691589011347/
Kansas https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.ks/
Kentucky https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-Kentucky-1041454725992026/
Louisiana https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.la/
Maine https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-Maine-125270871387661/
Maryland https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-Maryland-162039091005138/
Massachusetts https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-Massachusetts-1849724261945085/
Michigan https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-Michigan-967637016672707/
Minnesota https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-Minnesota-472334613107213/
Mississippi https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-Mississippi-233960040434097/
Missouri https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-Missouri-243635872790052/
Montana https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-Montana-157927794754485/
Nebraska https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.ne/
Nevada https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.nv/
New Hampshire https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-New-Hampshire-1337878536319721/
New Jersey https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-New-Jersey-520029025002245/
New Mexico https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-New-Mexico-207000759828833/
New York https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.ny/
North Carolina https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-North-Carolina-1334190563346564/
North Dakota https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-North-Dakota-315270008900148/
Ohio https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-Ohio-221283025062491/
Oklahoma https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-Oklahoma-1963143980637319/
Oregon https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.or/
Pennsylvania https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.pa/
Rhode Island https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-Rhode-Island-785062465004579/
South Carolina https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-South-Carolina-116501338985905/
South Dakota https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-South-Dakota-124317024846024/
Tennessee https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.tn/
Texas https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.tx/
Utah https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.ut/
Vermont https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.vt/
Virginia https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.va/
Washington https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.wa/
West Virginia https://www.facebook.com/Peoples-Constitution-West-Virginia-1118543178290614/
Wisconsin https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.wi/
Wyoming https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.wy/
07/25/2017
The Paradigm of Civilization
The history of civilization shows that our ability to secure a fair and habitable world for us and future generations depends on increasing levels of communication and co-operation. The common things among us is key in bringing the world together for a common good . A common constitution by people for the people is the way to go in order to end wars and eradicate poverty Think good, act good and feel good.
07/25/2017
If a convention of many countries was held in order to create an international sovereign to end war and establish a system of collective security, I believe the people of Bangladesh would support it.
07/25/2017
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE POSTS
INTRODUCTION TO THIS SITE AND THE CONCEPT
------------------------------------------------------------
This is the front page, which has threads started by the site administrator. This post only is pinned to the top. Other posts appear with the oldest at the bottom (from 24 July 2017).
If someone other than the site administrator starts a thread, it will appear on the "Visitor Posts" page, which can be accessed by the link in the column on the right.
The main page for the People's Constitution project, is at this URL:
https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss/
Many other pages local to the state or non-US country exist or are forming. The address for these pages are like so:
https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.xx
Where the xx suffix represents the US state. Examples:
https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.ca
https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.tx
https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.ut
https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.ny
https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.fl
Non-US countries have a 3-character code like this:
https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.nor
https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.deu
https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.dnk
https://www.facebook.com/hf.discuss.nld
etc. If your state or country is not included yet, we're working on it. Facebook rules say we need 25 likes to assign the short alias, so if not found, we haven't started the page yet or don't have the 25 likes yet. If you want to help get it established, let us know (see message link in the column on the right).
In addition, there is a Shop Now button. Currently, this leads to a donation page. We need money to make all this work, so please support us with a contribution. In the future, we may have memorabilia (T-shirts, buttons, stickers, pens, etc.) to send to contributors.
These pages have (or will have) local administrators who will post updates, including event announcements past and future.
CONCEPT
-----------------
We endeavor to replace the current US Constitution and create a new international sovereign called the Human Federation.
The revised version of the US Constitution addresses many weaknesses and faults that have become apparent over the past 230 years, which cannot be changed by single amendments for practical reasons. Wholesale replacement is required, as it was required in 1787.
The current version of the documents can be found here. The Constitution for the Human Federation begins on page 21:
http://openvoting.org/ad/revised-const.pdf
This basic purpose of the Human Federation (HF) would be to make swords into plowshares -- collect the world's military hardware and recycle it.
As more countries join, the need to retain any of it diminishes.
The other basic purpose of the HF is space -- mostly to get colonization started (beginning with the Moon). Over time, the function is mainly monitoring, while continually improving readiness to respond to extra terrestrial hazards (like incoming Near Earth Objects).
The draft constitution of the Human Federation says, "This Constitution is the Supreme Sovereign for all people choosing to be governed by it."
HF would own no land and, once new laws are in place, legislative sessions would become shorter and shorter.
These pages represent real life political campaigns that will expand to become constitutional conventions. According to current US law, it will take 3/4ths of the 50 US states (38) to ratify the new US Constitution. Some people feel that red states in the US will be most difficult to convince, so we are making some extra efforts there. The Human Federation constitution calls for at least 40 charter members. So, we see a need for approximately 100 of these state and national pages.
People's Constitution
No more wars. New US legal structure and the world. Presenting a revised US Constitution + world