# Joseph C. Jenkins — Center Stage https://mornings.network/shows/center-stage/guests/joseph-jenkins Who should make the decisions? A slate-roof craftsman and author brings his proposal for direct democracy to a conversation about communication, representation and participation. ## Their story Joseph C. Jenkins is an author, publisher and slate-roof consultant who began roofing in 1968. He wrote The Slate Roof Bible and founded the Slate Roofing Contractors Association. In this appearance, Keith and Jon explore his writing on direct democracy, how modern communication could change participation, and the questions his proposal raises. The political ideas discussed are Jenkins’s proposals, presented with the hosts’ questions. ## Full interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkpMJF3FswQ ## Chapters 05:11 — The books behind the proposal Why Jenkins began writing about direct democracy. 07:50 — Modern communication The technology comparison at the heart of his argument. 26:58 — One vote alongside constituents A concrete example of how his proposed system would work. 38:53 — The person behind the writing His roofing background and the experiences behind his books. ## Highlights ### Why Government Needs Modern Communication Jenkins compares today’s ability to distribute writing quickly with earlier centuries. He argues that modern communication should influence how government operates. Keith and Jon give him space to explain the proposal; the clip preserves his argument rather than presenting it as established policy. Jenkins compares today’s ability to distribute writing quickly with earlier centuries. He argues that modern communication should influence how government operates. Keith and Jon give him space to explain the proposal; the clip preserves his argument rather than presenting it as established policy. Optional guest post: We changed how we communicate. Why shouldn’t that change how we govern? I can send copies of my writing around the world overnight without charging for them. That wasn’t possible in 1776, 1876 or even 1976. That’s the point I made to Keith and Jon on Mornings in the Lab with Keith, Jon & Friends. We have tools for communicating with large numbers of people in very short periods of time. My argument is that we should use today’s technology to rethink how government operates today. Keith and Jon gave me room to explain the idea and discuss it. This clip is one part of that conversation. What would you want a system like that to get right before you trusted it? Watch the clip below. ### One Vote Like Everybody Else Jenkins makes his proposed voting arrangement concrete: a representative would have one vote alongside each constituent. His example of 300,001 votes describes the system he advocates, rather than a system already operating. Jenkins makes his proposed voting arrangement concrete: a representative would have one vote alongside each constituent. His example of 300,001 votes describes the system he advocates, rather than a system already operating. Optional guest post: What if your representative had one vote—just like you? In my proposal, the representative would have one vote, and so would each person in their constituency. If there were 300,000 constituents, that would mean 300,001 votes. One of those votes would belong to the representative. The principle I’m arguing for is that the people themselves make the decisions. I explained that idea to Keith and Jon on Mornings in the Lab with Keith, Jon & Friends. This is a proposal I’m putting forward for discussion. The clip gives you the core of it in my own words. What question would you ask before deciding whether it could work? Watch the clip below. ## Full appearance optional guest post Who should make the decisions: the people, or the people we elect? I joined Keith and Jon on Mornings in the Lab with Keith, Jon & Friends to explain my argument for direct democracy and discuss how modern communication might make a different approach possible. We talked about the role of representatives, who would lead, and what it would take to get people involved. We also talked about my books and some of the background behind my work. The two clips give you part of the argument. The full conversation gives you more of the questions and discussion around it. What would you ask me about this proposal? Watch the full conversation: [insert verified live Center Stage guest-page URL after approval and page QA]. ## Sources Official website: https://josephjenkins.com/ Slate-roof background: https://www.theslateroofexperts.com/ The Slate Roof Bible publisher: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/801804/the-slate-roof-bible-by-joseph-c-jenkins/