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Trump's political theatre often appears to transform even resistance as a segment of the show. We become like extras responding as he thrills his base by disregarding established norms. However what if we created an independent symbolic action that leaves Trump out – or at least having an alternative priority?

Earlier Models of Civic Action

Colonists in the late colonial period developed innovative forms of protest against British crackdown. Instead of using conventional governmental institutions, they selected boycott organizations and even an initial intercolonial assembly with no apparent legitimacy or prior example.

These actions of symbolic defiance, despite limitations, eventually culminated in formal independence. After the war, framers convened a delegates' meeting – officially to modify the first national framework requiring a unanimous vote from all states. Instead, delegates worked in secret, replaced the document altogether, and changed the process for amending the updated system to a three quarters vote.

A Modern Possibility for Reform

The Trump presidency marks a colossal setback to constitutional standards, yet it also presents a chance to improve these standards constructively. Like revolutionary leaders, we should create a selective, by-invitation body – an initial constitutional convention – which anti-Trump Democratic states exclusively establish for themselves, confine to themselves, and control.

The national framework already provides some authority for such action.

Developing an Regional Agreement

These participating governments could convene to propose a multi-state partnership by and between themselves, following the concept if not the precise language of the compacts which the national charter's interstate agreement clause references. These states could submit formally to national representatives to adopt as national legislation. Naturally this will never happen currently, given the federal government as currently dysfunctional cannot function regarding significant constitutional reform, in any form.

But the goal would be to propose a model for an alternative form of American government, for a post-Trump country, that preserves elements of the current institutional framework with enduring value, alongside radical change addressing current challenges.

A Specific Proposal

As an illustration: Multiple Democratic-leaning regions could declare a national emergency. State executives might assemble several aligned opposing states to select delegates elected via constituents or governmental bodies. The delegates’ job would involve to draw up a multi-state partnership, a declaration of protections of the people and duties of the participating governments.

The compact would distribute resources for these responsibilities to member governments and national authorities, if it were eventually approved by Congress. It would implement mandates that Washington would support financially – just for those states and any other that thereafter choose to participate the agreement.

A Visionary Opening

The partnership would open with an introduction where The citizens of member governments acknowledge not only our rights and our duties to respect all members fairly. The statement would recognize our obligations to ensure each person obtains adequate food, social security, health services, fulfilling employment as safeguards in a time of AI advancement. It must clearly state about the dangers artificial intelligence and climate change. It should insist on the federal role in medical research and evidence-driven healthcare policy to ensure we live better with increased longevity.

Addressing Previous Abuses

Additionally there should follow a comprehensive catalog of wrongs from the previous government, acts of cruelty, that should be punished and redressed, and abuses by federal courts, for example the political spending ruling, which must be overturned via regional measures implementing the partnership.

At the outset, the states must invite Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico to engage with equal status with equivalent rights and participate to the compact.

The Hardest Component – Finances

Next involves the hardest part – finances. This agreement would outline particular initiatives that member states should fund and those that the federal government should fund – basically for participating regions that join this agreement. This agreement would not only be a structural document enduring, and a funding proposal for immediate implementation. It needs to incorporate a restoration of financial support for Medicaid, and decreasing of costs for additional types health services.

An Inclusive Offer

Finally, the compact must incorporate an offer to Texas, Florida, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, and any further non-signatory region to enter also, despite they weren't initially included.

Political Consequences

Whatever may be said criticizing this approach, it might shift the former president off stage and show a particular convention-challenging courage from Democratic allies. It might offer progressive regions credit for autonomous symbolic breaking of conventions. All the better should additional regions do not show. {In