An Early Draft
Circle of power groups are far form the only way for citizens to organize for their wellbeing.
Citizen assemblies can be another effective way to organize. In such assemblies there is no need to do what an authority or anyone else says we should do. In our assemblies we can learn to trust each other more appropriately. We can listen to one another more carefully and carefully come up with that which we truly and deeply want in our governance.
We can also learn to better use that which we have. We can learn to better inspire, inform, and support our elected representatives and others inside of government. It is okay too to act as we decide best to act "inside" our system of governance. Continuing to continue to act in civil society seems also important.
So, the idea is to use our assembly to be better, more effective, active citizens. An perhaps act to act gently and persistently to re- assemble our republic. And we could even allow the more radical among us to consider the true nature of democracy. Still it is well remember that many of us are in this together and that we have a lot to learn and that we do not always speak exactly the same language. So, to learn to act together we need to practice listening to one another carefully.
People who have thought much about citizen assemblies use and interesting word, '''commision.' In dealing with a working government, even one which is working far from perfectly, we learn that there is a vocabulary they often use which we do not often use and I hope that we seldom do use. We could usefully get ''commissioned" to support and inform parts of government. This is one way to get listened to on the inside. It can be powerfully useful, but it is not necessary. Will want to get powerful people in government to listen to us more carefully and that may be an ongoing goal, but "there is more than one way to skin a cat." Please do not practice on our cats.
Our governance is a public thing and each assembly has the power of being a mini-public.
Our assemblies can become a kind of corporate entities and by so doing gain outside monies from philanthropies and other interested parties to support our ability to do. However, the tendency to do that is the reason why I like our little circles of power to be our principle organization. Still,when has the time and energy it seems fine to be a member of more than one organization. Our very citizenship makes us a member of an organization. My maternal grandmother was a member of about a dozen clubes, her union, and a political party. I found her to a good citizen, a good person, and a good grandmother. I imagine that all her clubs found her to be a member in good standing.
The special power is produced physically. Goodwill is important. It is well done in a neutral, semi private, and quiet place. It is done by sitting in a circle facing inward. It is best when the chairs are the same or similar. There is no other furniture except perhaps a small table at the center of the circle. Using the circle their may be from 3 to 33 approximately.
The idea is to give each participant a short period of time to speak at each session for a limited time as the other participants practice listening with care. To learn more about this energizing practice go to the associated site Dialogue With RCS.