John Macgregor (democracy re-design)
@johnmacgregor.bsky.social
Author, 'The Mechanics of Changing the World: Political Architecture to Roll Back State & Corporate Power'
https://books2read.com/thirddraft
Aussie, journo: NYT, SMH
Designer, anti-poverty projects, Cambodia
#ThirdDraftDemocracy #DemocracyWorks #Vote
https://books2read.com/thirddraft
Aussie, journo: NYT, SMH
Designer, anti-poverty projects, Cambodia
#ThirdDraftDemocracy #DemocracyWorks #Vote
Pinned
Revolutions Are Coming To The West: Fixing The Fatal Flaws That Cause Inevitable Collapse
The Kim Iversen Show LIVE | January 30, 2025 John MacGregor was a political journalist who saw firsthand that our current system was beyond repair—so he stepped away for eight years to design a new on
rumble.com
My recent book interview with Kim Iversen. Our topics:
* War, inequality & govt corruption: insoluble in the current political framework
* And: #PoliticalReform, #SystemChange, #DirectDemocracy, #DeliberativeDemocracy, #ProportionalRepresentation, #VoteByMail, #Subsidiarity, #Referendums...
* War, inequality & govt corruption: insoluble in the current political framework
* And: #PoliticalReform, #SystemChange, #DirectDemocracy, #DeliberativeDemocracy, #ProportionalRepresentation, #VoteByMail, #Subsidiarity, #Referendums...
A new review from Alan Eyre, former State Dept diplomat & negotiator.
I'm happy with the way the book appeals to progressives & MAGA - and now, it seems, to both outsiders and insiders.
I'm happy with the way the book appeals to progressives & MAGA - and now, it seems, to both outsiders and insiders.
January 2, 2026 at 8:04 AM
A new review from Alan Eyre, former State Dept diplomat & negotiator.
I'm happy with the way the book appeals to progressives & MAGA - and now, it seems, to both outsiders and insiders.
I'm happy with the way the book appeals to progressives & MAGA - and now, it seems, to both outsiders and insiders.
The principle that governed human society for hundreds of millennia was ‘counter-dominance’.
I want to rule—but so do you. And so does he, and her.
So we arrived at an adaptation—at the group level—by which it was understood that no-one ruled. What ruled was consensus.
I want to rule—but so do you. And so does he, and her.
So we arrived at an adaptation—at the group level—by which it was understood that no-one ruled. What ruled was consensus.
December 24, 2025 at 12:31 AM
The principle that governed human society for hundreds of millennia was ‘counter-dominance’.
I want to rule—but so do you. And so does he, and her.
So we arrived at an adaptation—at the group level—by which it was understood that no-one ruled. What ruled was consensus.
I want to rule—but so do you. And so does he, and her.
So we arrived at an adaptation—at the group level—by which it was understood that no-one ruled. What ruled was consensus.
Popular revolutions—‘leftwing’ or ‘rightwing’—tend to be stolen.
From the Bolsheviks to MAGA.
Political systems produce elites—& these rapidly get focused on survival.
Not the society’s survival—their own.
From the Bolsheviks to MAGA.
Political systems produce elites—& these rapidly get focused on survival.
Not the society’s survival—their own.
December 23, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Popular revolutions—‘leftwing’ or ‘rightwing’—tend to be stolen.
From the Bolsheviks to MAGA.
Political systems produce elites—& these rapidly get focused on survival.
Not the society’s survival—their own.
From the Bolsheviks to MAGA.
Political systems produce elites—& these rapidly get focused on survival.
Not the society’s survival—their own.
'Washington', as the shaper, & political centre of the United States, is dissolving.
Capital has globalised, & the politicians who work in DC now have owners that are scattered across the world.
Capital has globalised, & the politicians who work in DC now have owners that are scattered across the world.
December 11, 2025 at 12:24 AM
'Washington', as the shaper, & political centre of the United States, is dissolving.
Capital has globalised, & the politicians who work in DC now have owners that are scattered across the world.
Capital has globalised, & the politicians who work in DC now have owners that are scattered across the world.
War & genocide. Falling real wages. Homelessness. Declining public health. Polarization…
Most of our crises are created by two other crises:
- The epistemic crisis (No-one can agree on the facts any more)
Most of our crises are created by two other crises:
- The epistemic crisis (No-one can agree on the facts any more)
December 9, 2025 at 11:39 PM
War & genocide. Falling real wages. Homelessness. Declining public health. Polarization…
Most of our crises are created by two other crises:
- The epistemic crisis (No-one can agree on the facts any more)
Most of our crises are created by two other crises:
- The epistemic crisis (No-one can agree on the facts any more)
The goal of China's leadership class is governance of the nation. It may contain a few duds & crooks—but the basic mission is adhered to.
Contrastingly, Western governments contain people who are sponsored—financially underwritten—to produce particular policies.
Contrastingly, Western governments contain people who are sponsored—financially underwritten—to produce particular policies.
December 9, 2025 at 12:22 AM
The goal of China's leadership class is governance of the nation. It may contain a few duds & crooks—but the basic mission is adhered to.
Contrastingly, Western governments contain people who are sponsored—financially underwritten—to produce particular policies.
Contrastingly, Western governments contain people who are sponsored—financially underwritten—to produce particular policies.
It's a no-brainer that we don't fix Pharma or the food chain (or war or homelessness) till we fix politics & government.
#ThirdDraftDemocracy
#ThirdDraftDemocracy
December 5, 2025 at 11:12 PM
It's a no-brainer that we don't fix Pharma or the food chain (or war or homelessness) till we fix politics & government.
#ThirdDraftDemocracy
#ThirdDraftDemocracy
Popular revolutions—whether ‘leftwing’ or ‘rightwing’—tend to be stolen.
From the Russian Revolution right down to to MAGA.
Political systems produce elites—& once in power these quickly focus on survival.
Not society’s survival—their own.
From the Russian Revolution right down to to MAGA.
Political systems produce elites—& once in power these quickly focus on survival.
Not society’s survival—their own.
December 2, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Popular revolutions—whether ‘leftwing’ or ‘rightwing’—tend to be stolen.
From the Russian Revolution right down to to MAGA.
Political systems produce elites—& once in power these quickly focus on survival.
Not society’s survival—their own.
From the Russian Revolution right down to to MAGA.
Political systems produce elites—& once in power these quickly focus on survival.
Not society’s survival—their own.
My weekend Substack:
johnmacgregor.substack.com/p/democratis...
Please subscribe (free) if you want to keep abreast of my writings on democratising the West.
johnmacgregor.substack.com/p/democratis...
Please subscribe (free) if you want to keep abreast of my writings on democratising the West.
Democratisation: many birds, one stone
Greetings to all!
johnmacgregor.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:41 PM
My weekend Substack:
johnmacgregor.substack.com/p/democratis...
Please subscribe (free) if you want to keep abreast of my writings on democratising the West.
johnmacgregor.substack.com/p/democratis...
Please subscribe (free) if you want to keep abreast of my writings on democratising the West.
Australians:
My friend Sally Gibson, who was central to the TV miniseries "The Dismissal", has just done an interesting podcast interview with Nicole Chvastek on the research, the series, & the event itself.
My friend Sally Gibson, who was central to the TV miniseries "The Dismissal", has just done an interesting podcast interview with Nicole Chvastek on the research, the series, & the event itself.
Ep 37 - Go Decently | Truth, Lies and Media
Weekly discussions of Journalism Ethics
shows.acast.com
November 17, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Australians:
My friend Sally Gibson, who was central to the TV miniseries "The Dismissal", has just done an interesting podcast interview with Nicole Chvastek on the research, the series, & the event itself.
My friend Sally Gibson, who was central to the TV miniseries "The Dismissal", has just done an interesting podcast interview with Nicole Chvastek on the research, the series, & the event itself.
It's catching on that our ever-increasing problems stem from an obsolete democratic design.
So fixes are being proposed:
'Let's do direct democracy!'
'Let's do deliberative democracy!'
'End the media monopolies—un-capture information!'
So fixes are being proposed:
'Let's do direct democracy!'
'Let's do deliberative democracy!'
'End the media monopolies—un-capture information!'
November 14, 2025 at 10:07 AM
It's catching on that our ever-increasing problems stem from an obsolete democratic design.
So fixes are being proposed:
'Let's do direct democracy!'
'Let's do deliberative democracy!'
'End the media monopolies—un-capture information!'
So fixes are being proposed:
'Let's do direct democracy!'
'Let's do deliberative democracy!'
'End the media monopolies—un-capture information!'
The revelations about Vietnam didn't prevent Iraq.
The revelations about Iraq didn't prevent Ukraine.
In the absence of a political system that demands accountability, & a media system that gives us a picture of reality, we blunder into war after war.
The revelations about Iraq didn't prevent Ukraine.
In the absence of a political system that demands accountability, & a media system that gives us a picture of reality, we blunder into war after war.
November 14, 2025 at 1:17 AM
The revelations about Vietnam didn't prevent Iraq.
The revelations about Iraq didn't prevent Ukraine.
In the absence of a political system that demands accountability, & a media system that gives us a picture of reality, we blunder into war after war.
The revelations about Iraq didn't prevent Ukraine.
In the absence of a political system that demands accountability, & a media system that gives us a picture of reality, we blunder into war after war.
IMO we are at a 'paradoxical moment', analogous to the Great Depression/New Deal. Things are bad, but the table is laid for a social transformation:
1. We have a 300,000-year genetic endowment of equality & co-operation (civilization, monopoly & war are an eye-blink)
1. We have a 300,000-year genetic endowment of equality & co-operation (civilization, monopoly & war are an eye-blink)
November 10, 2025 at 12:18 AM
IMO we are at a 'paradoxical moment', analogous to the Great Depression/New Deal. Things are bad, but the table is laid for a social transformation:
1. We have a 300,000-year genetic endowment of equality & co-operation (civilization, monopoly & war are an eye-blink)
1. We have a 300,000-year genetic endowment of equality & co-operation (civilization, monopoly & war are an eye-blink)
"𝗜𝗻 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁."
- 𝙃𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙋𝙞𝙩𝙠𝙞𝙣, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙮
The Western political system should be seen as being on death watch.
It has delivered us war, inequality & monopoly.
- 𝙃𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙋𝙞𝙩𝙠𝙞𝙣, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙮
The Western political system should be seen as being on death watch.
It has delivered us war, inequality & monopoly.
November 6, 2025 at 12:31 AM
"𝗜𝗻 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁."
- 𝙃𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙋𝙞𝙩𝙠𝙞𝙣, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙮
The Western political system should be seen as being on death watch.
It has delivered us war, inequality & monopoly.
- 𝙃𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙋𝙞𝙩𝙠𝙞𝙣, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙮
The Western political system should be seen as being on death watch.
It has delivered us war, inequality & monopoly.
Dick Cheney was state capture incarnate
This resulted in the Iraq War, which killed a million people including 4,400 Americans
A war he profited from greatly
If there's one thing to be inferred from his wretched life, it is that wealth & political power must be consigned to their separate domains
This resulted in the Iraq War, which killed a million people including 4,400 Americans
A war he profited from greatly
If there's one thing to be inferred from his wretched life, it is that wealth & political power must be consigned to their separate domains
November 4, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Dick Cheney was state capture incarnate
This resulted in the Iraq War, which killed a million people including 4,400 Americans
A war he profited from greatly
If there's one thing to be inferred from his wretched life, it is that wealth & political power must be consigned to their separate domains
This resulted in the Iraq War, which killed a million people including 4,400 Americans
A war he profited from greatly
If there's one thing to be inferred from his wretched life, it is that wealth & political power must be consigned to their separate domains
I doubt 'the West' minds losing men & materiel at a high rate in Ukraine, as every round expended has to be replaced in the inventory.
That means profits for the donors who bankroll the politicians who launch the wars.
In policy terms, 'the West' = corporations, not politicians or people.
That means profits for the donors who bankroll the politicians who launch the wars.
In policy terms, 'the West' = corporations, not politicians or people.
October 30, 2025 at 8:44 AM
I doubt 'the West' minds losing men & materiel at a high rate in Ukraine, as every round expended has to be replaced in the inventory.
That means profits for the donors who bankroll the politicians who launch the wars.
In policy terms, 'the West' = corporations, not politicians or people.
That means profits for the donors who bankroll the politicians who launch the wars.
In policy terms, 'the West' = corporations, not politicians or people.
Our prime responsibility, if we want to end genocide & ecocide—war & homelessness—is to relocate wealth & political power to their separate domains.
October 29, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Our prime responsibility, if we want to end genocide & ecocide—war & homelessness—is to relocate wealth & political power to their separate domains.
Microplastics in the water, heavy metals in the food chain.
These are not one-offs.
They come from the same place as falling real wages, financial crashes & drug epidemics.
These are not one-offs.
They come from the same place as falling real wages, financial crashes & drug epidemics.
October 28, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Microplastics in the water, heavy metals in the food chain.
These are not one-offs.
They come from the same place as falling real wages, financial crashes & drug epidemics.
These are not one-offs.
They come from the same place as falling real wages, financial crashes & drug epidemics.
Currently all our information is controlled by a small handful of media & social media billionaires.
Does this sound normal or healthy?
Does this sound normal or healthy?
October 26, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Currently all our information is controlled by a small handful of media & social media billionaires.
Does this sound normal or healthy?
Does this sound normal or healthy?
Regularly electing new governments & leaders—who presided over decades of decline—has not yet convinced Westerners that their political system needs replacing.
#ThirdDraftDemocracy
#ThirdDraftDemocracy
October 26, 2025 at 4:20 AM
Regularly electing new governments & leaders—who presided over decades of decline—has not yet convinced Westerners that their political system needs replacing.
#ThirdDraftDemocracy
#ThirdDraftDemocracy
Our crises go back to plutocracy: to Organized Money capturing government policy.
If we don’t fix that, we don’t fix much.
Elect someone from the Right—or the Left. They’ll be subject to the same donor pressures that captured Trump, Biden, & all who preceded them:
If we don’t fix that, we don’t fix much.
Elect someone from the Right—or the Left. They’ll be subject to the same donor pressures that captured Trump, Biden, & all who preceded them:
October 23, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Our crises go back to plutocracy: to Organized Money capturing government policy.
If we don’t fix that, we don’t fix much.
Elect someone from the Right—or the Left. They’ll be subject to the same donor pressures that captured Trump, Biden, & all who preceded them:
If we don’t fix that, we don’t fix much.
Elect someone from the Right—or the Left. They’ll be subject to the same donor pressures that captured Trump, Biden, & all who preceded them:
Our political framework seems designed to recycle profitable crises.
Wars, pandemics & financial crashes transfer trillions from poor, middle class & government to the already-rich.
Governments wave it through.
Wars, pandemics & financial crashes transfer trillions from poor, middle class & government to the already-rich.
Governments wave it through.
October 21, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Our political framework seems designed to recycle profitable crises.
Wars, pandemics & financial crashes transfer trillions from poor, middle class & government to the already-rich.
Governments wave it through.
Wars, pandemics & financial crashes transfer trillions from poor, middle class & government to the already-rich.
Governments wave it through.
We don’t have social, economic & environmental problems—we have a democracy problem.
October 20, 2025 at 5:34 PM
We don’t have social, economic & environmental problems—we have a democracy problem.
The hallmark of our era is the transition from flawed democracy to unaccountable elite rule.
(Followed by falling real incomes, Permanent War, mass homelessness, collapsing human health...)
But this remarkable transition is absent from the national conversation (symptoms aside).
(Followed by falling real incomes, Permanent War, mass homelessness, collapsing human health...)
But this remarkable transition is absent from the national conversation (symptoms aside).
October 9, 2025 at 12:28 PM
The hallmark of our era is the transition from flawed democracy to unaccountable elite rule.
(Followed by falling real incomes, Permanent War, mass homelessness, collapsing human health...)
But this remarkable transition is absent from the national conversation (symptoms aside).
(Followed by falling real incomes, Permanent War, mass homelessness, collapsing human health...)
But this remarkable transition is absent from the national conversation (symptoms aside).