tNN INTRODUCTION to the NEIGHBORHOODS NETWORK Thanks for joining us! This slide presentation introduces the TNN – the problem that it addresses, and why it is the solution. the NEIGHBORHOODS NETWORK Slide 1

tNN SESSION CONTENTS THE PROBLEM The American Democratic System. What Happened To It? THE SOLUTION Organize for Democracy! A Network of Neighborhoods. We're going to do this introduction to the TNN in two parts. The first part discusses the root cause of our considerable public problems – the lack of real democracy. The second describes the genuine solution. Slide 2

tNN THE AMERICAN SYSTEM The better of the Founding Fathers intended that power be held by the people. The American system was designed so that the citizenry determines policy – generally what is to be done and how. The government, composed of those elected by the people and representing the people, is then to implement that policy. This is how the American system of governance was intended to be, and how it must again be! Slide 3

HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK tNN HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK The following diagram shows the American System as it was intended to be: The People Determine Policies The Legislature Translates Policies into Coherent Body of Law The Executive Executes Legislation To summarize in a simple diagram. Slide 4

tNN IT'S DEMOCRACY That American system is indeed democracy, and the word democracy means exactly what its Greek roots denote: “demos” the people” and “cracy” rule by – that is “rule by the people.” Democracy means this – nothing less! Slide 5

tNN WHAT HAPPENED? The Founding Fathers did not and could not anticipate: Concentration of wealth and political power during Industrialization. A centralized Mass Media based on Radio and TV. Enthronement of Corporations in the Gilded Age. Loss of genuine, intimate, everyday community. Slide 6

tNN WHAT HAPPENED? Now we've become powerless because we do not: Discuss public issues among ourselves, learn each others public concerns, nor collaborate to discover the facts and find mutually acceptable solutions. Select and elect true public servants. Deliver policy mandates to those servants. And we do not access information needed to govern. Slide 8

isolated, unorganized, misinformed tNN THIS HAPPENED: The 1% Owns & controls dominates lobbies Political Parties MASS MEDIA GOVERNMENT A new paradigm emerged – destroying the relationship between the people and their government. A privileged caste consolidated wealth as never before possible, and used the new means of mass communications (newspapers, magazines, radio, movies, television) to manipulate the population of isolated individuals into a passive, accepting stupor. Power, over all the institutions of the country, moved, more and more, into their hands. frames & manipulates has power to tax & police votes CITIZENRY isolated, unorganized, misinformed Slide 7

tNN ORGANIZE! THE SOLUTION: ORGANIZE! Slide 9

tNN THIS IS HOW! A Neighborhood Unit (NU) is organized in every neighborhood of the nation. Each NU has a monthly General Meeting (GM) to discuss issues it considers important. Work Groups (WGs) do the detailed work. The NUs network to collaborate, share work group efforts, pool information, and build the common ground – the public will. Simple formal processes develop policy mandates deliverable to the public servants. Slide 10

tNN MAJOR tNN COMPONENTS The Neighborhood Unit is the principal and highest unit of organization. All other structures are subservient. Registries list the NUs in each election district in the nation. Relays transfer well formatted messages to districts of NUs. An information utility, the Neighborhood Information Network (NIN) organizes info. Slide 11

tNN HOW WORK GETS DONE Neighbors submit issues to be discussed at the next GM, then vote to prioritize them. An issue that resonates at a GM is given to a WG to investigate in depth. A solution is formulated. The issue-solution pair is submitted to a small, random sample of NUs for examination and possible collaboration. If collaboration successful, a stringent statistical test is made. If consensus, you have a mandate. Slide 12

tNN WE REQUIRE: tNN to be highly decentralized, not controlled by any elite. No 'central committees.' tNN to be open to all citizens (but non-disruptive behavior is required). No ideology is presumed. tNN works by building the public will, the common ground. Ideas that don't achieve consensus are simply dropped. Complete transparency. No secrets. All activity is out in the open. Slide 13

tNN WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME? We change our status as human beings. By gaining power to determine our futures, we regain our self- respect and the respect of others. We accept our adult responsibility to self-govern and ensure a peaceful and prosperous future. Meeting with others as equals to consider important issues becomes a normal part of our lives. Participation in WGs will be a new adventure. We gain the satisfaction of doing detective work and a sense of accomplishment. Slide 14

tNN SESSION CONTENTS END of INTRO to tNN Slide 15