PROSPERITY, S.C. — With political divisions at a high and public trust at a low, many Americans feel powerless to shape the nation’s future. Navy veteran and former president of Preservation South Carolina Michael Bedenbaugh aims to change that in his thought-provoking new book, Reviving Our Republic: 95 Theses for the Future of America, Bedenbaugh lays out a citizen-driven roadmap for reform, showing how everyday Americans can reclaim their voice in government and rebuild the Republic from the ground up.
“Too often, people believe they’re at the mercy of politicians or corporations,” Bedenbaugh said. “But history proves that real change begins with citizens who choose responsibility over resignation. This book equips people with practical steps to revive our democracy and hold leaders accountable.”
In Reviving Our Republic, Bedenbaugh draws inspiration from Martin Luther's historic call for reform, Ninety-five Theses, and reinterprets the country’s founding principles for modern 21st-century challenges. The result is a bold blueprint for addressing the most pressing problems facing the nation today.
Grounded in lessons across history from Washington’s Farewell Address to the Citizens United decision of 2010 that enabled the influence of corporations on policy, Reviving Our Republic is a fresh approach to restructuring American governance, with 40 actionable proposals aimed at fostering a more responsive, accountable government.
In this blend of practical experience and scholarly insight, readers will learn:
• Proposals to reform the electoral system, including methods that ensure broader voter consensus in elections and changes to the Electoral College
• Strategies to curb corporate influence in politics and strengthen individual liberty, and to give voice to a wider range of perspectives
• A plan to restore the balance between federal and local powers, reviving true federalism in our government
• Methods to ensure fiscally responsible governance and address the national debt crisis
• Ways to realign foreign policy with the constitutional vision of limiting foreign entanglements
Written with concerned voters, community leaders, and students of politics, history and economics in mind, Reviving Our Republic offers a revolutionary approach to reform that Bedenbaugh hopes will inspire America’s citizens to engage in a path forward guided by shared principles and responsibility.
“Restoring our Republic is not optional — it’s essential for America’s survival,” Bedenbaugh said. “This is a turning point in our history. Either we choose the hard work of responsible citizenship now, or we allow division and corruption to decide our future for us. The time to act is today.”