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.
We can (after a short egalitarian interlude) see that pattern reasserting itself now.
Nonetheless, genetics (and common sense) remain on our side.
With a democratic design that optimises our egalitarian wiring, we can emulate our natural egalitarianism at scale.
#ThirdDraftDemocracy #Democracy
Nonetheless, genetics (and common sense) remain on our side.
With a democratic design that optimises our egalitarian wiring, we can emulate our natural egalitarianism at scale.
#ThirdDraftDemocracy #Democracy
Available now at your favorite digital store!
The Mechanics of Changing the World: Political Architecture to Roll Back State & Corporate Power by John Macgregor
books2read.com
December 24, 2025 at 12:31 AM
We can (after a short egalitarian interlude) see that pattern reasserting itself now.
Nonetheless, genetics (and common sense) remain on our side.
With a democratic design that optimises our egalitarian wiring, we can emulate our natural egalitarianism at scale.
#ThirdDraftDemocracy #Democracy
Nonetheless, genetics (and common sense) remain on our side.
With a democratic design that optimises our egalitarian wiring, we can emulate our natural egalitarianism at scale.
#ThirdDraftDemocracy #Democracy
We humans turned the Great Ape model (dominance hierarchies, alpha males) on its head.
But then civilization came along: providing tools (weaponry, food storage, money) that ended that.
Thus, since the Stone Age, humanity's history has been the history of opulent aristocracies and toiling masses.
But then civilization came along: providing tools (weaponry, food storage, money) that ended that.
Thus, since the Stone Age, humanity's history has been the history of opulent aristocracies and toiling masses.
December 24, 2025 at 12:31 AM
We humans turned the Great Ape model (dominance hierarchies, alpha males) on its head.
But then civilization came along: providing tools (weaponry, food storage, money) that ended that.
Thus, since the Stone Age, humanity's history has been the history of opulent aristocracies and toiling masses.
But then civilization came along: providing tools (weaponry, food storage, money) that ended that.
Thus, since the Stone Age, humanity's history has been the history of opulent aristocracies and toiling masses.
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.
Such a system would be highly workable, but keeps its elite—conservative or progressive—on a short leash.
Governments can no longer be captured.
Revolutions can no longer be stolen.
#ThirdDraftDemocracy
books2read.com/thirddraft
Governments can no longer be captured.
Revolutions can no longer be stolen.
#ThirdDraftDemocracy
books2read.com/thirddraft
Available now at your favorite digital store!
The Mechanics of Changing the World: Political Architecture to Roll Back State & Corporate Power by John Macgregor
books2read.com
December 23, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Such a system would be highly workable, but keeps its elite—conservative or progressive—on a short leash.
Governments can no longer be captured.
Revolutions can no longer be stolen.
#ThirdDraftDemocracy
books2read.com/thirddraft
Governments can no longer be captured.
Revolutions can no longer be stolen.
#ThirdDraftDemocracy
books2read.com/thirddraft
E.g.:
- Randomly selected assemblies to share the work of legislatures
- Big decisions made by plebiscite
- Media & social media not owned by wealth (no one income sector can monopolise it)
- Citizens taught how to think (not what to think)
- Randomly selected assemblies to share the work of legislatures
- Big decisions made by plebiscite
- Media & social media not owned by wealth (no one income sector can monopolise it)
- Citizens taught how to think (not what to think)
December 23, 2025 at 12:00 AM
E.g.:
- Randomly selected assemblies to share the work of legislatures
- Big decisions made by plebiscite
- Media & social media not owned by wealth (no one income sector can monopolise it)
- Citizens taught how to think (not what to think)
- Randomly selected assemblies to share the work of legislatures
- Big decisions made by plebiscite
- Media & social media not owned by wealth (no one income sector can monopolise it)
- Citizens taught how to think (not what to think)
Some plan this from the start. Others are seduced in office.
“Democratic” & totalitarian systems have a common design flaw: the elite develops constituencies other than the people.
Not ideology—mechanics.
We now have the tools to design our way out of this recurring dilemma.
“Democratic” & totalitarian systems have a common design flaw: the elite develops constituencies other than the people.
Not ideology—mechanics.
We now have the tools to design our way out of this recurring dilemma.
December 23, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Some plan this from the start. Others are seduced in office.
“Democratic” & totalitarian systems have a common design flaw: the elite develops constituencies other than the people.
Not ideology—mechanics.
We now have the tools to design our way out of this recurring dilemma.
“Democratic” & totalitarian systems have a common design flaw: the elite develops constituencies other than the people.
Not ideology—mechanics.
We now have the tools to design our way out of this recurring dilemma.
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.
The way to bring us citizens back into the picture is to replace our captured institutions - to democratise: locally, nationally & regionally.
#ThirdDraftDemocracy
books2read.com/thirddraft
#ThirdDraftDemocracy
books2read.com/thirddraft
Available now at your favorite digital store!
The Mechanics of Changing the World: Political Architecture to Roll Back State & Corporate Power by John Macgregor
books2read.com
December 11, 2025 at 12:24 AM
The way to bring us citizens back into the picture is to replace our captured institutions - to democratise: locally, nationally & regionally.
#ThirdDraftDemocracy
books2read.com/thirddraft
#ThirdDraftDemocracy
books2read.com/thirddraft
Whereas American wars were once waged for American corporations, increasingly they’re waged for blocs of global investors.
The old 'nation-centric' model & the new 'global' model have one thing in common: the individual citizen is sidelined.
The old 'nation-centric' model & the new 'global' model have one thing in common: the individual citizen is sidelined.
December 11, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Whereas American wars were once waged for American corporations, increasingly they’re waged for blocs of global investors.
The old 'nation-centric' model & the new 'global' model have one thing in common: the individual citizen is sidelined.
The old 'nation-centric' model & the new 'global' model have one thing in common: the individual citizen is sidelined.
Donald Trump’s top underwriters, for example, are (above all) supporters of Israel. The Biden administration was peppered with alumni from BlackRock—whose owners live not only in the US but in Singapore, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE & beyond.
Our notion of geopolitics needs adjusting.
Our notion of geopolitics needs adjusting.
December 11, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Donald Trump’s top underwriters, for example, are (above all) supporters of Israel. The Biden administration was peppered with alumni from BlackRock—whose owners live not only in the US but in Singapore, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE & beyond.
Our notion of geopolitics needs adjusting.
Our notion of geopolitics needs adjusting.
'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.
And the second by new democratic architecture (Article I: Eliminate all money from politics).
There’s a bit more to it. But the way to end poverty & war is not to fight poverty & war.
It’s to eliminate their drivers: engineered public ignorance, captured decision-making.
There’s a bit more to it. But the way to end poverty & war is not to fight poverty & war.
It’s to eliminate their drivers: engineered public ignorance, captured decision-making.
December 9, 2025 at 11:39 PM
And the second by new democratic architecture (Article I: Eliminate all money from politics).
There’s a bit more to it. But the way to end poverty & war is not to fight poverty & war.
It’s to eliminate their drivers: engineered public ignorance, captured decision-making.
There’s a bit more to it. But the way to end poverty & war is not to fight poverty & war.
It’s to eliminate their drivers: engineered public ignorance, captured decision-making.
- The governance crisis (Our ‘representatives’ have been captured by corporations—and now rule for them, & not for us)
The first could be resolved by breaking up media & social media cartels—and funding thousands of journalism startups via a financial transactions tax.
The first could be resolved by breaking up media & social media cartels—and funding thousands of journalism startups via a financial transactions tax.
Available now at your favorite digital store!
The Mechanics of Changing the World: Political Architecture to Roll Back State & Corporate Power by John Macgregor
books2read.com
December 9, 2025 at 11:39 PM
- The governance crisis (Our ‘representatives’ have been captured by corporations—and now rule for them, & not for us)
The first could be resolved by breaking up media & social media cartels—and funding thousands of journalism startups via a financial transactions tax.
The first could be resolved by breaking up media & social media cartels—and funding thousands of journalism startups via a financial transactions tax.
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)
[From "The Mechanics of Changing the World: Political Architecture to Roll Back State & Corporate Power", chapter 18: 'Decontamination'.]
December 9, 2025 at 12:22 AM
[From "The Mechanics of Changing the World: Political Architecture to Roll Back State & Corporate Power", chapter 18: 'Decontamination'.]
In 2015, 76% thought government was ‘run by a few big interests’—which (Pew said) ‘has long been the view of most Americans, with majorities consistently saying this for much of the past 15 years’.
December 9, 2025 at 12:22 AM
In 2015, 76% thought government was ‘run by a few big interests’—which (Pew said) ‘has long been the view of most Americans, with majorities consistently saying this for much of the past 15 years’.
In a 2013 Pew survey, 69% of Americans said that economic decisions since 2008 had benefited banks and large financial institutions the most, and 71% that government had done nothing to benefit the middle class.
December 9, 2025 at 12:22 AM
In a 2013 Pew survey, 69% of Americans said that economic decisions since 2008 had benefited banks and large financial institutions the most, and 71% that government had done nothing to benefit the middle class.
[2] The global polling organization Worldpublicopinion.org found the belief that government is run by and for ‘a few big interests’ is pervasive in France (59%), Britain (60%), Argentina (71%), Nigeria and South Korea (78%), the United States (80%), Mexico (83%), and Ukraine (84%)—all ‘democracies’
December 9, 2025 at 12:22 AM
[2] The global polling organization Worldpublicopinion.org found the belief that government is run by and for ‘a few big interests’ is pervasive in France (59%), Britain (60%), Argentina (71%), Nigeria and South Korea (78%), the United States (80%), Mexico (83%), and Ukraine (84%)—all ‘democracies’
- Thomas Ferguson, Paul Jorgensen, and Jie Chen, “How Money Drives US Congressional Elections: Linear Models of Money and Outcomes,” Structural Change and Economic Dynamics 61 (June 2022): 527–45.
WorldPublicOpinion.org – Managed by the Program for Public Consultation
Worldpublicopinion.org
December 9, 2025 at 12:22 AM
- Thomas Ferguson, Paul Jorgensen, and Jie Chen, “How Money Drives US Congressional Elections: Linear Models of Money and Outcomes,” Structural Change and Economic Dynamics 61 (June 2022): 527–45.
[1] "Using a new and more comprehensive dataset built from government sources, the paper shows that the relations between money and votes cast for major parties in elections for the US Senate and House of Representatives from 1980 to 2018 are well approximated by straight lines."
December 9, 2025 at 12:22 AM
[1] "Using a new and more comprehensive dataset built from government sources, the paper shows that the relations between money and votes cast for major parties in elections for the US Senate and House of Representatives from 1980 to 2018 are well approximated by straight lines."
Writing about that, these last ten years, has shown me it is eminently doable, & would have wide public support.
books2read.com/thirddraft
#ThirdDraftDemocracy
books2read.com/thirddraft
#ThirdDraftDemocracy
December 9, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Writing about that, these last ten years, has shown me it is eminently doable, & would have wide public support.
books2read.com/thirddraft
#ThirdDraftDemocracy
books2read.com/thirddraft
#ThirdDraftDemocracy