Nick Coccoma
LightNews LightNews
banner
nickcoccoma.bsky.social
Nick Coccoma
@nickcoccoma.bsky.social
560 followers 650 following 260 posts
Founder of AssembleAmerica.org. Using Citizen Assemblies to put power in the hands of everyday people. Join a movement for Democracy by Assembly! #DxA
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Pinned
nickcoccoma.bsky.social
Nick Coccoma @nickcoccoma.bsky.social · Apr 5
Time to save America. Citizens Assemblies are the way. Join @assembleamerica.org and our movement for Democracy by Assembly! #DxA
1 3
Reposted by Nick Coccoma
assembleamerica.org
Assemble America @assembleamerica.org · Sep 15
Our very own @nickcoccoma.bsky.social joined The Democratic Constitution Blog to ask a basic question: what is democracy? (Hint: It's not elections, parties, or parliament.)

#democracy #citizensassembly #sortition #constitution

assemblingamerica.substack.com/cp/173659014
What is Democracy?
Sortition is fundamental
assemblingamerica.substack.com
2 3
nickcoccoma.bsky.social
Nick Coccoma @nickcoccoma.bsky.social · Aug 24
And it might occur to Lofgren to consider that perhaps it’s the very antidemocratic nature of our political and economic system that contributed to so many people opting for a strongman who promised to make them rich and powerful.
1
nickcoccoma.bsky.social
Nick Coccoma @nickcoccoma.bsky.social · Aug 24
Didn’t say it’s not hugely concerning that he has so much support. Just that it’s wrong to blame democracy for his ascent to power.
1
nickcoccoma.bsky.social
Nick Coccoma @nickcoccoma.bsky.social · Aug 24
www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
The Case for Abolishing Elections - Boston Review
They may seem the cornerstone of democracy, but in reality they do little to promote it.
www.bostonreview.net
nickcoccoma.bsky.social
Nick Coccoma @nickcoccoma.bsky.social · Aug 24
THAT’S what liberal commentators have huge difficulty admitting: that the constitution gave us Trump, precisely because of its antidemocratic design. If you picked 600 Americans by lot and brought them together to deliberate, with expert information at their hands, we’d not be in this situation.
1 1
nickcoccoma.bsky.social
Nick Coccoma @nickcoccoma.bsky.social · Aug 24
It’s the precisely the anti-democratic features of our system and constitution that allowed this: the Electoral College; the Senate, the Supreme Court; narcissistic elitist politicians; the party system; and elections themselves—which are and always have been aristocratic devices.
1 1
nickcoccoma.bsky.social
Nick Coccoma @nickcoccoma.bsky.social · Aug 24
Actually this is lazy and confused. How can you blame democracy for Trump when he lost the popular vote in 2016 by tens of millions of votes? And when a majority today is opposed to him and his policies?
2
Reposted by Nick Coccoma
assembleamerica.org
Assemble America @assembleamerica.org · Aug 24
www.tiktok.com/@subwaytakes...
Episode 469: We need to stop having all elections and elect leaders through a random lottery!! Feat @Riz Ahmed
TikTok video by SubwayTakes
www.tiktok.com
1
nickcoccoma.bsky.social
Nick Coccoma @nickcoccoma.bsky.social · Aug 24
www.assembleamerica.org
1 1
Reposted by Nick Coccoma
assembleamerica.org
Assemble America @assembleamerica.org · Aug 24
👏👏👏

www.justjared.com/2025/08/23/r...
Riz Ahmed Suggests ‘Randomized Lottery System’ Should Take Place of Traditional Elections
Here's what he said...
www.justjared.com
1
Reposted by Nick Coccoma
assembleamerica.org
Assemble America @assembleamerica.org · Aug 20
#Sortition #Democracy #CitizensAssembly

www.tiktok.com/@assemblinga...
#stitch with @leasyweasy#sortition #assembleamerica #politicians #elections
TikTok video by assemblingamerica
www.tiktok.com
1 1
nickcoccoma.bsky.social
Nick Coccoma @nickcoccoma.bsky.social · Aug 12
So maybe it’s time to get rid of politicians and have a real democracy.

www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
The Case for Abolishing Elections - Boston Review
They may seem the cornerstone of democracy, but in reality they do little to promote it. There’s a far better way to empower ordinary citizens: democracy by lottery.
www.bostonreview.net
nickcoccoma.bsky.social
Nick Coccoma @nickcoccoma.bsky.social · Aug 11
Hmm it’s almost like electing politicians itself guarantees that manipulative, greedy, power-hungry narcissists govern us into the ground. Almost like elections are inherently oligarchic. Almost like picking citizens by lottery would be actual democracy…

www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
The Case for Abolishing Elections - Boston Review
They may seem the cornerstone of democracy, but in reality they do little to promote it. There’s a far better way to empower ordinary citizens: democracy by lottery.
www.bostonreview.net
nickcoccoma.bsky.social
Nick Coccoma @nickcoccoma.bsky.social · Aug 11
Neither Packer nor @ositanwanevu.com understands the book’s real flaw: elections themselves are oligarchic. Everyone from antiquity through the Founders knew this. What is democracy? Sortition. Until we adopt jury democracy like Athens, we’ll remain an oligarchy

www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
The Case for Abolishing Elections - Boston Review
They may seem the cornerstone of democracy, but in reality they do little to promote it. There’s a far better way to empower ordinary citizens: democracy by lottery.
www.bostonreview.net
2
nickcoccoma.bsky.social
Nick Coccoma @nickcoccoma.bsky.social · Aug 11
Except that elections themselves are not democratic and will never truly let citizens come to informed majorities about anything. Only sortition can give us that.

www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
The Case for Abolishing Elections - Boston Review
They may seem the cornerstone of democracy, but in reality they do little to promote it. There’s a far better way to empower ordinary citizens: democracy by lottery.
www.bostonreview.net
nickcoccoma.bsky.social
Nick Coccoma @nickcoccoma.bsky.social · Aug 11
Why stop there? Electing any politicians at all is not democracy, as every political theorist knew going back to Aristotle. What is? Sortition.

www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
The Case for Abolishing Elections - Boston Review
They may seem the cornerstone of democracy, but in reality they do little to promote it. There’s a far better way to empower ordinary citizens: democracy by lottery.
www.bostonreview.net
3
Reposted by Nick Coccoma
assembleamerica.org
Assemble America @assembleamerica.org · Jul 31
Stanford’s Jim Fishkin contrasts the ills of elections with the virtues of deliberative democracy:“In a healthy democracy, politics shouldn’t just be a contest of strength between parties — it should be a battle of ideas.”

#Democracy #Sortition

jacobin.com/2025/07/deli...
Trust in the Demos Isn’t Naive — It’s Empirical
Democratic deliberation asks us to meet as moral equals, exchange reasons for our beliefs, consider evidence, and remain open to changing our minds. Evidence from real-world examples shows that it can...
jacobin.com
1 1 4
nickcoccoma.bsky.social
Nick Coccoma @nickcoccoma.bsky.social · Jul 31
It was a pleasure to talk to Colin Pugh about Democracy by Assembly. Part I gets into the weeds—have a listen!
#Democracy #Sortition #CitizensAssembly
1
nickcoccoma.bsky.social
Nick Coccoma @nickcoccoma.bsky.social · Jul 30
Time to democratize the courts. Sortition is the only way. #Sortition #Democracy

drpaulzeitz.substack.com/cp/147782222
Reimagining a People’s Court
A People's-led Playbook for Constitutional Review
drpaulzeitz.substack.com
1
nickcoccoma.bsky.social
Nick Coccoma @nickcoccoma.bsky.social · Jul 30
Time to democratize the courts. Sortition is the only way. #Sortition #Democracy

drpaulzeitz.substack.com/cp/147782222
Reimagining a People’s Court
A People's-led Playbook for Constitutional Review
drpaulzeitz.substack.com
nickcoccoma.bsky.social
Nick Coccoma @nickcoccoma.bsky.social · Jul 30
Time to democratize the courts. Sortition is the only way. #Sortition #Democracy

drpaulzeitz.substack.com/cp/147782222
Reimagining a People’s Court
A People's-led Playbook for Constitutional Review
drpaulzeitz.substack.com
1
nickcoccoma.bsky.social
Nick Coccoma @nickcoccoma.bsky.social · Jul 30
Time to democratize the courts. Sortition is the only way. #Sortition #Democracy

drpaulzeitz.substack.com/cp/147782222
Reimagining a People’s Court
A People's-led Playbook for Constitutional Review
drpaulzeitz.substack.com
nickcoccoma.bsky.social
Nick Coccoma @nickcoccoma.bsky.social · Jul 30
Time to democratize the courts. Sortition is the only way. #Sortition #Democracy

drpaulzeitz.substack.com/cp/147782222
Reimagining a People’s Court
A People's-led Playbook for Constitutional Review
drpaulzeitz.substack.com
nickcoccoma.bsky.social
Nick Coccoma @nickcoccoma.bsky.social · Jul 30
Time to democratize the courts. Sortition is the only way. #Sortition #Democracy

drpaulzeitz.substack.com/cp/147782222
Reimagining a People’s Court
A People's-led Playbook for Constitutional Review
drpaulzeitz.substack.com
nickcoccoma.bsky.social
Nick Coccoma @nickcoccoma.bsky.social · Jul 30
Time to democratize the courts. Sortition is the only way. #Sortition #Democracy

drpaulzeitz.substack.com/cp/147782222
Reimagining a People’s Court
A People's-led Playbook for Constitutional Review
drpaulzeitz.substack.com