Preview Summary –

• A different kind of clock rollback seems to have been the message from the recent US midterm election results. A new time zone was on the ballot, to reset around “Democracy Saving Time”.
• Pundits and commentors did analysis, SAIC did too, with a view on America’s next phase, aka Reconstitution. This means having America as a model of makeover, takeover, smarts, charts.
• To rally civic engagement of the people, by the people and for the people for America’s next chapter we’ll draw on the civil rights movement in 1967 and patriot movement in 1774.

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It’s the holiday season as retailers ramp-up steps to maximize foot and click traffic over the coming weeks. With the Thanksgiving holiday as a typical jump-off point, many have begun offering doorbuster sales to get folks moving on their shopping list. Based on the high prices on basic goods, it’ll be a real test of stretching the pocketbook and watching for deals. A major retailer is known for advertising rollback sales on items, which means there’s a price drop to attract volume purchases. Well, a different kind of rollback seems to have been the message from the recent US midterm election results.

Consider that it was also that moment on the calendar to roll back clocks an hour from daylight savings time to daylight standard time. That meant having an extra hour to sleep in or party-on. In the fall we roll back the clocks but as if life had something to say on other matters, we also found ourselves heading to the polls to vote our way forward on things. This time, it seemed like a new time zone was on the ballot, whether we wanted to return to daylight standard time, or reset around “Democracy Saving Time” and America’s next chapter. This time things felt a little different in some ways, but like another moment in American history.

In 1862 President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which took effect on January 1^st, 1863. Many black communities prepared for what became known as Watchnight services on New Year’s Eve to ‘watch and see’ as the new year arrived. Well, the night of the 2026 midterm results might go down as a different kind of Watchnight as folks were glued to reports on the midterm election results. Pundits and commentors did analysis, SAIC did too, with a view on America’s next phase, aka Reconstitution:  

• Makeover: America is the new model in makeover like we see on home makeover reality shows. The political party colors have swapped places in some states and new faces in some winners.   
• Takeover: Georgia is the new model in girl-power, where three of the senior level elected offices have female winners in their races. Is this a preview of a new southern strategy?  
• Smarts: SAIC is the new model in civic smarts. There’s analytics used for decision making in sports, and there’s SAIC’s AI (automatic intelligence) that will get used for civics and politics.
• Charts: The 2026 midterm result is the new model on the charts of going from closeout to step out. Some hope to closeout a blip in America’s backsliding and to step out on a new civic frontier.

A series of events and policy shifts came after the Emancipation Proclamation, including those as a steppingstone from the civil war. That period saw major legislation like the Reconstruction Amendments. There were political shifts too as more African Americans won in election races and became ‘firsts’ in America’s story. It seems a similar takeaway from the recent midterm elections might apply, where various ‘firsts’ were achieved in local, statewide and national implication election results. Some places even saw what was thought to be unimaginable in a generation.

So here we are at a moment where a shift in the electorate sends the message of a shift needed at this juncture. Moreover, there are two questions we might begin to answer, taking a page from the civil rights movement in 1967 and the patriot movement in 1774. These questions are helping to guide the Civic 250 initiative for America’s next chapter in civic engagement, social impact and the American Dream. An aspect of how we get there might tie-in with the political but is even more so a link to the cultural. In addition, we can draw from other activities in life to achieve the best:

1. Tuning

There’re are steps taken with musical instruments and sound equipment in preparation for the big show. Every PA announcer and music producer knows something about a mic check test. It’s when the audio levels get verified for optimal sound quality. This happens with someone speaking into the mic or playing an audio track preview. Well, this recent period in America’s journey was a mic check test. Citizens began seeing this as a time to express their voice. It was also a gut check moment as folks began listening to themselves and to others by “listening to the listening” to meet America’s optimal core-quality.

2. Pruning

The fall season is known for its vibrant colors and pleasant temperatures. Whether it’s getting dressed up with an over-the-shoulder sweater, catching a football game or heading out to the apple farm, there’s enough to do for outdoor adventure. Those who farm the soil or tend the garden know this is also pruning time from the harvest. Folks will cut back in areas of planting to prepare them for the growing season to come. America’s recent midterm election results seem to offer a similar sense. Maybe the message is that we needed some pruning to cut-back on political drama and divisiveness for new growth to come.

3. Proving

America now has an opportunity of proving to itself and the world, about who we are and what we’re made of as a nation. That was basically the message President Lincoln had in his Gettysburg Address. His speech was also a ‘proving mandate’ to America on whether we would live up to our ideals and die trying, or simply sell-out our values by stifling the growth of its black citizens or moving towards a more perfect Union. He challenged his peers on “government of the people, by the people and for the people”. Maybe we might translate that today to civic engagement of the people, by the people and for the people.

4. Grooving

When you’re in a groove, there’s a certain rhythm that goes with your actions. It feels like you’re dancing even when that’s not exactly the steps you’re taking. There’s an inner connectedness with your outer expression. That’s what an artist works on delivering in a music performance or a sports team demonstrates in is play on the field. There’s even that throwback R&B track that talks about being “one nation under a groove”. That’s what we mean when it comes to delivering content, programs, events and juice with See America In Color (SAIC). We say “J.A.M. With Us” to experience a civic groove. 

Wondering about civic engagement of the people, by the people and for the people for America’s next chapter? Start by asking two questions; (1) Where do we go from here: chaos or community? (2) How do we show up and step out as community towards our best life and a more perfect Union? History shows how Dr. King and the civil rights movement in 1967 can help answer the first question. While residents in Suffolk County, Massachusetts and the patriot movement in 1774 can help answer the second question. Can’t get enough groove when you JAM With Us to go higher than the sky!

Chime-in on impacting Democracy & Public Good, Education & Community or Entrepreneurship & American Dream, ‘Civic Mondays’ events or Civics & Community forums. Plus, you can “J.A.M. With Us” (join a movement) in civic engagement, social change and community life. Checkout the Signup Center below.

Tracks: Sia – Higher Than the Sky – https://youtu.be/QA5nwtIoTGE?si=-Uup_nKX2t3JICJY

Alissia, Anderson.Paak – Can’t Get Enough – https://youtu.be/XJ7cdE0PpPI?si=L8L7WaeN-bQujsKn