Remember that grown-ups like to say that you kids need to learn civics, even though no one provides much in the way of civics classes.
Joe Mathews articles
Joe Mathews writes for Democracy Chronicles from his home in California. He is a columnist and editor at Zócalo Public Square and co-president of the Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy.
On a Rocky Hill in Athens, a ‘Democratic Odyssey’ Begins
Could a European People’s Assembly—Politician-Free and Chosen by Lottery—Become a Permanent Branch of Government?
Dianne Feinstein Was California’s Last Ambassador
These would-be Feinstein successors have recently issued statements praising her, but they won’t try to fill her shoes.
I Hereby Censure the Censure
It’s time that we censure the whole idea of censure. It’s consuming the precious time and money of our local governments.
Bend it like Oregon
Californians’ exodus to places like Bend, Oregon, showcases rapid growth fueled by affordability, good schools, and a high quality of life.
Heartbreak and Yearning on the Streets of East Oakland
“Nightcrawling” by Leila Mottley is a bestselling novel that explores the hardships of life in Oakland’s struggling streets.
Newsom’s ‘Campaign For Democracy’ Has A Democracy Problem
The governor has sympathies for changes in governance; he’s deeply familiar with democratic innovation. But will he actually take on democratic reform?
Who Will Protect The Global Economy From California?
This bank failure, the second largest in U.S. history, actually fits a very old pattern—of California and its industries putting the economies of the nation and the world at risk.
California, Keep Your Schools Open. No Matter What
California’s school reopening revealed education disparities, highlighting the need to rebuild trust and relationships for addressing these inequalities.
Why California And I Both Need A Jubilee
California needs a jubilee to reflect and rethink its governance after the pandemic years and decades of success and consequences.