TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I – CONGRESSIONAL ACTS OF COURAGE
Chapter 1. Across The Great Divide
For members of Congress, from across the aisle and the country, to undertake “joint tours” of each other’s districts or states to better understand each other and our nation. Read more...
Chapter 2. The Red Badge of Courage
“If I vote for war I will go to war, joining our troops on the field of battle.” A Congressional Pledge of Honor. Read more...
Chapter 3. First, Walk a Mile
For members of Congress to perform “undercover missions” to learn how the rest of us live. Read more...
Chapter 4. Leadership Is A Team Sport: Asking For Help
For members of Congress to enlist the best and brightest of their constituents—of all political views—to serve as Problem-Solving Committees to help craft solutions to America’s problems. Read more...
Chapter 5. Crowd-Legislating
For politicians to hold innovation contests offering financial rewards for the best solutions to our nation’s challenges. Read more...
Chapter 6. No Lying
No blind ideological pledges. Read more...
Chapter 7. No Cheating
No filibusters. Read more...
Chapter 8. No Stealing
No earmarks. Read more...
Chapter 9. Do or Die
For members of Congress to pledge to achieve specific results or step down from office if they fail. Read more...
PART II – PRESIDENTIAL ACTS OF COURAGE
Chapter 10. One Person, One Vote, One Nation
For the Presidential candidates to pledge: "If I should win the Electoral College, but lose the popular vote, I will offer my opponent a role in my administration.” Read more...
Chapter 11. Former Presidents, America's Future
For the president to enlist the nation’s former presidents as a bipartisan council in ongoing service to the nation. Read more...
Chapter 12. Leadership Is A Team Sport: Brokering Peace in Washington
For the president to “broker peace” with Congress’s divided political parties, so they can all work together for the good of the nation. Read more...
PART III – TAKING ACTION
Chapter 13. Wild Card
A short and simple message to our nation's leaders: The acts of courage in this book are just suggestions. If you don’t like them, then come up with your own. Be creative. Be courageous.
Chapter 14. The Rebirth of American Democracy
July 4th, 2026—America’s 250th birthday—lies just beyond the horizon. The time has come for a new generation of leaders to step forward with the courage to create a vibrant new American democracy.
Chapter 15. What You Can Do
This book is the start of a campaign to bring courage back to Washington. If you want to help, this chapter tells you some things to do: