Scenario for Move Forward
The Decision Website is quite the challenge.
We will be successful if:
If the concept seems infeasible at this point, you can jump to more detail on what a functioning Decision Website looks like. Otherwise, let’s explore some steps to proceed.
Here is what’s below…
To get started, we need a team of web designers/developers, programmers, project managers, database architect, business manager, etc. We also need folks knowledgeable about the science of debate. There will be a need for computer hardware/software, servers, network equipment, and possibly a facility. Specialists in AI, blockchain, and security will be needed as consultants.
We could crowd-source our project to initiate a Decision Website. This may be the easiest way and it gives a grass-roots feel.
Also, somebody could donate a few million dollars to start off the project. A politician could redirect funds from their campaign chest. That politician would go down as a hero. Some wealthy individual might see the opportunity to play a significant role in changing the world. The fact is, there is plenty of money out there.
We may need to create a non-profit organization or a cooperative to distribute money to employees and vendors. This can be done democratically, such that the charter defines all of us as stakeholders. The idea is to not give up control to any small group of people.
Then there is the need for continued funding to support the growth of users and to implement new AI technology. Funding should not be a problem once we make progress.
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A Draft Model of the Decision Website
This step involves creating a rudimentary design for the Decision Website. While the design can include some progressive concepts of debate, we want this site implemented in a short period of time. Why? Because we want to get more people involved as soon as possible.
We will have registration to the site. Registration is a big issue later on. Fortunately at this stage we are not making political decisions, but only gathering ideas for building an effective debate website. Even later as we debate controversial issues to test our website, lax registration should not be an issue since all ideas are welcome in a debate. However, we will be watching the effect of registration in our website, designing techniques to ensure one account per person, and preventing any bot-style interference. Later we will need to tighten registration to U.S. citizens.
Our first topic of discussion will be how best to build the Decision Website. We will need a collection of very innovative ideas that will help us overcome the logical fallacies and other hindrances to solid debate that we experience now in our discussions.
The thinking is why use a handful of people when we have so many smart minds to draw from. This is the spirit of the project and of democracy.
Our team can act as facilitators of the conversation. If we have implemented polling into the system at this point, we can begin to see how voting might work in the future. Our team now can start to sort through the ideas to determine what’s feasible, potential design methodologies, and find a balance of complexity and elegance.
For assured trust, we require that the project have full transparency. Every step they take is documented as they go along. As a bonus, this becomes our first experiment in real transparency.
Now our team will be developing a solid Decision Website model. There will be test systems along the way and a lot of hard work. How much AI Artificial Intelligence we can utilize may be a function of money or complexity at this point.
Once we have a solid Decision Website including voting, we replicate it to manage our project. Now and hereafter, we are running democratically. All of us can then participate in the project goals, finances, procedures, hiring, and firing. Voila, it is our first democratic organization.
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A Working Model of the Decision Website
Within our main Decision Website, we can start debating a few topics, such as:
That’s right, controversial subjects. This part is exciting.
Now we are testing the efficiency and value of the Decision Website. Is there a unifying effect and a creative out-of-the-box dynamic? Are we expanding our understanding of issues? Can we envision solutions that are supported by the vast majority? Are we exposing the politics, hidden motives, and agendas, which previously clouded our perspectives?
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Simultaneously, we begin to use models of the Decision Website for other purposes.
We are finding out if a large group of people can work together to make good productive decisions. And we can improve our debate methods as we encounter problems.
At the same time, we can replicate a model for science topics. Let’s debate climate change and the nature of pandemics. It might seem like the scientific community is already having this debate. Publishing papers and peer review in the science world works to a degree. But the debate is scattered and does not garner the public’s full trust. Besides, there are political, economic, and psychological issues involved, which the scientific community is not fully qualified to tackle. Controversy has to be talked about. We just might find our opinions moving closer together.
The intellectual growth and cohesiveness of the citizenry might astound us at this point. However, it will be obvious that what we lack is a way to implement our best ideas. We need to add power behind the citizens’ voice.
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With our new-found voice, we should decide to change the way power works in our country, and strengthen the democratic process. This requires changes to our Constitution. Scary, I know.
You could think of it as a second revolution. America’s founders succeeded in making the first step in democracy. Now we need to make the major changes to fix problems and adapt for our modern times. It will take bravery and our best thinking. It will take a people dedicated to democracy.
Making constitutional changes is a tricky process, but it is very doable with the help of the Decision Website. A step-by-step scenario on how to navigate Article V of the Constitution is laid out in the Path to Constitutional Convention.
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The first step, though, is debating what changes we seek in our Constitution. Sure, we could make a couple of Amendments. But why not resolve all of the problems, improve the efficiency of political processes, add more checks and balances, remove the influence of money in government, take away the conflicting motives of politicians, and give the citizenry a bigger voice. This requires a suite of constitutional amendments.
And since we are at this point in our debate, why not seek even more democracy. Can the Decision Website allow the citizen’s voice to be stronger? Why couldn’t we add new elements to the constitution, whereby the people’s voice is more robust and used in checks and balances and even decision making. We might even shift away from representative government towards Direct Democracy where citizens make decisions.
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There be opposition to the Decision Website. People in political positions will see this as a threat. We are shifting the balance of power. Interestingly, their reaction will be a measure of their dedication to democracy and a better America.
For a more extensive conversation on opposition, please read “Who’s Against the Decision Website”.
We need to be ready. It is not someone else’s job to straighten up this world. It is our job. This is our call to be visionaries and leave a lasting impact.
The structure of the decision website can be copied by groups around the world to implement in their own countries. Once this engine of democracy gets going, change will be the topic everywhere. The citizens of every country on the planet will be watching. This is where the power of a grass-roots Internet will shine.
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This is our time to set things right. It is a unique time in history and technology where innovative new ideas are possible. Windows of opportunity sometime come and go. One thing is certain… either we are bold and take action… or the power game will continue in this world.
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