Project 2026: A Madisonian View

Prescription to our current illness

We are living in a moment of profound distrust. Faith in the federal government and other core institutions is at an all-time low, and many Americans question the very value of our democracy. President Donald Trump returning to the White House stirs wildly divergent reactions: some fear for the future of our republic, while others celebrate what they view as a “liberation day.” Meanwhile, the ongoing activities of DOGE, led by Elon Musk, seek to radically reshape federal institutions and weaken the traditional guardrails of democratic governance—horrifying some and delighting others. With personal confirmations taking place for leadership of major federal agencies, polarization has only deepened. For many observers, the new administration appears to be following the Project 2025 blueprint for dismantling governmental checks and balances and edging toward an authoritarian presidency.

Amid these unsettling developments, we approach the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence—one of the greatest documents ever composed. This milestone offers a unique opportunity to reconnect with the founders’ vision and reclaim the role of citizens as sovereign participants in government. It is in this spirit that I look to James Madison, revered as the “Father of the Constitution,” and ask what he might think of our contemporary politics—and more importantly, what he would do to set us on a healthier path.

For the past decade, I’ve immersed myself in Madison’s political philosophy, his analytic and communication skills, and the personal qualities that shaped his civic endeavors. His dedication to Enlightenment ideals shines through in the “architectonic document” he helped craft, encoding the nation’s political DNA. As a psychiatrist, I’m struck by Madison’s nuanced grasp of human nature—how “passions and factions” drive individual political choices and ripple through the body politic. These insights informed his remedy for the systemic failings of the Articles of Confederation: a constitutional structure built on checks and balances, distribution of power between federal and state governments, and vigilance against factional “disease.”

The Vision: First Principles

A central challenge facing our nation today is the absence of a unified, collective vision. Historically, America has thrived when leaders and citizens alike rallied around clear, shared ideals—beginning with the Declaration of Independence, which continues to inspire efforts to strengthen our democracy. As we near the 250th anniversary of this remarkable experiment, we can—and should—update that founding vision to confront modern realities, forging a renewed sense of purpose that unites Americans in a common cause.

A Madisonian Strategic Plan

James Madison developed a bold, systematic strategy to address the nation’s early problems. He:

1. Confronted immediate threats in Virginia and elsewhere.

2. Called for the Constitutional Convention and influenced its outcome.

3. Insisted on ratification by the people, not just by state legislatures—even if that “people” was initially limited to property-owning white men.

4. Legislated the Bill of Rights, adding the first ten amendments to the Constitution in direct response to public opinion.

By making citizens stakeholders in adopting the Constitution, Madison established a sturdy foundation of public consent. His approach—echoing a physician’s practice of diagnosing illnesses and prescribing remedies—remains instructive today.

Diagnosis and Treatment of the Body Politic

Madison famously employed a disease metaphor in describing the “Vices of the Political System.” Under the Articles of Confederation, government was beset by factionalism, instability, and an inability to pursue the common good. Madison’s “treatment plan”—our Constitution—was designed to address these ills through a republican form of government, separated powers, federal-state balances, and robust checks on factional dominance.

“By a faction,” he wrote, “I understand a number of citizens … who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to … the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.”

He summed up the core dysfunction:

“Complaints are everywhere heard … that our governments are too unstable, that the public good is disregarded in the conflicts of rival parties … by the superior force of an … overbearing majority.”

Madison proposed two cures for the “mischiefs of faction”:

1. Remove their causes (which threatened to destroy liberty), or

2. Control their effects by building a well-structured republic over a broad territory, with representative institutions that refine and enlarge public views.

Madison and Public Opinion

Beyond structural checks and balances, Madison held that the ultimate source of sovereignty rests with the people. Properly channeled, public opinion can compel officials to govern responsibly. Realizing this ideal has never been easy—especially now, when social media, 24-hour news, and vast economic interests wield enormous influence over public discourse.

Still, Madison’s core insight endures: if citizens meaningfully deliberate, they can help shape and stabilize the body politic. That is why reclaiming citizen engagement and ensuring that “public opinion” genuinely represents the public—rather than powerful factions—remains a cornerstone of any healthy democracy.

The Role of Citizen Public Opinion

Although countless advocacy groups push narrow or broad agendas, individual citizens are often relegated to the role of voters, petition-signers, or social-media commentators, merely reacting to established agendas. Our collective task is to build a citizen-oriented strategy that clarifies key challenges and energizes broader participation. By renewing our national vision and reinforcing the social contract, we can better navigate intensifying partisanship, economic inequality, and cultural-religious divisions.

Crowdsourcing, Collaboration, and Deliberation

Project 2026 draws on Madison’s structured approach by offering frameworks and tools that empower citizens to cooperate in problem-solving. Drawing inspiration from a free press, adult education, and the medical case presentation model, Project 2026 encourages communities to recognize issues, diagnose systemic flaws, and propose solution-oriented “treatment plans” for our political ailments. Its three key components include:

1. The Citizen Brief
   A concise, data-driven document that reframes problems, provides relevant context, and outlines possible solutions—designed to inform rather than overwhelm citizens.

2. The Case Presentation
   Borrowing from medical practice, the Case Presentation process tackles specific issues (e.g., the opioid crisis, election reform) by systematically diagnosing challenges and suggesting targeted remedies. This method fosters shared understanding and concrete next steps.

3. The Citizen Commission
   A structured forum in which citizens, experts, and stakeholders collaborate to identify and implement solutions. This “think-and-do” tank continually assesses progress and adjusts strategies as necessary.

Moonshot Press: The Public Publication of Project 2026

Moonshot Press has a straightforward yet profound mission: to contribute to the fulfillment of the Declaration of Independence’s radical promise—that all people are created equal and entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As we anticipate the 250th anniversary of our national experiment, Moonshot Press will be the platform for publishing and promoting the insights, instruments, and frameworks of Project 2026, ensuring that citizens claim their rightful role in shaping governance.

Shrink Notes: Psychological Insights into Politics and Healthcare

Within Moonshot Press, Shrink Notes offers a psychologically informed lens on politics and healthcare. Led by psychiatrist Dr. Shimon Waldfogel, the blog explores the behaviors, motivations, and interactions of individuals, institutions, and organizations in order to pinpoint and address root causes of dysfunction. By illuminating the emotional underpinnings of political action, Shrink Notes aims to chart practical courses toward positive change.

Conclusion

Ultimately, Project 2026 rests on the principle that a healthy republic demands engaged, well-informed citizens who continually refashion and reaffirm their government. This vision of “citizen sovereignty” traces directly back to the founders’ belief that authority springs from the people themselves. In practice, it entails nurturing a culture of deliberation, collaboration, and mutual respect—qualities that James Madison saw as crucial to sustaining liberty and keeping factional passions in check.

By applying Madison’s “disease metaphor,” we can confront our modern political ills: identify their symptoms, diagnose their causes, and implement solutions that protect both liberty and justice. Project 2026 extends an open invitation to everyone who believes in re-centering our politics on the common good. As we commemorate 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, let us honor the brilliant architecture Madison helped construct—and continue refining it for generations to come.