The Blueprint
Table of Contents
The 3 Objectives to Restore Democracy
- True Citizen Representation
- Level the Playing Field & Make Third-Parties & Independents Viable
- Digestible Politics & Informed Citizenship
Essential Components to Restore Democracy
- Eliminating Money in Politics
- Holding Politicians Accountable
- Overcoming Media Bias and Misinformation
- Implementing Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV)
- Making Third-Parties & Independents Viable
- Digital Democracy (DD) Platform
- Unifying Grassroots Political Organizations, Independent Journalists, and Underdog Politicians
- Informing the Public
- Creating Accountability Mechanisms
- Promoting a Multi-Partisan Political System
Overview
At FiNC, we’ve embarked on an ambitious journey to integrate the collective aspirations of the American people into a comprehensive blueprint for change. Our vision is to unite diverse voices, movements, and perspectives under one cohesive plan of action, manifested through innovative technological solutions and new political framing.
While various groups already advocate for one or more elements of this blueprint, FiNC stands at the forefront, weaving together the common consensus of what America truly desires. Surprisingly, most elements of our blueprint have overwhelming support, with polls consistently showing approval ratings above 80% and higher among the American populace.
Our approach is rooted in the fundamental ideals of democracy, echoing the intentions of our forefathers who envisioned a government of, by, and for the people. Yet, our goals extend beyond rhetoric; they are pragmatic, logical, and resonate deeply with the values shared by the majority of citizens.
Central to our blueprint is the transition from extreme partisanship to consensus policy-making. We recognize the need to transcend divisive politics and forge a new path guided by cooperation, dialogue, and mutual understanding. By fostering consensus, we can unlock the latent potential of democracy and chart a course towards inclusive governance.
Moreover, while our long-term objectives are grand, we acknowledge the need for immediate action. Hence, we embrace our Implementation Framework— immediate measures that address pressing challenges while laying the groundwork for lasting change. These strategies serve as stepping stones, bridging the gap between the present and our long-term vision for the future.
As we embark on this transformative journey, we invite all Americans to join us in shaping a more equitable, just, and participatory democracy. Our blueprint is not merely a vision; it’s a call to action—a rallying cry for change that transcends partisan divides and empowers every citizen to reclaim their voice in the democratic process.
Together, we can realize the promise of democracy and build a brighter future for generations to come.
Foundational Principles
These principles serve as an overview of the guiding values that drive FiNC’s Blueprint to Upgrade Democracy. These overarching themes lay the groundwork for a more transparent, accountable, and inclusive political system.
- Transparency: The foundation of a healthy democracy is open access to information. FiNC’s Blueprint emphasizes transparency at every level, ensuring that citizens have a clear view of their politicians’ actions, financial backing, and voting records. This principle also extends to media sources, promoting unbiased information and exposing conflicts of interest.
- Accountability: Accountability is crucial for a functioning democracy. FiNC advocates for mechanisms that hold politicians responsible for their promises and actions. Tools like the Politician Report Cards on DD will ensure that politicians are evaluated based on their performance, allowing citizens to make informed voting decisions.
- Multiple Perspectives and Consensus Building: FiNC advocates for a system that respects and integrates a spectrum of viewpoints. We envision a dynamic ecosystem where constant feedback from citizens through polls, surveys, and focus groups is integrated. By fostering an environment where diverse ideas are acknowledged and consensus is actively sought, FiNC aims to ensure that every voice contributes to shaping a truly representative and effective democracy.
The 3 Objectives to Restore Democracy
At FiNC, our mission is founded on three core objectives designed to reinvigorate the democratic process and realign it with the core principles of genuine representation, equity, and informed citizenship. These objectives are not just goals but are the pillars upon which we aim to build a future where every voice is heard, and every vote truly counts.
1. True Citizen Representation
Bridging the Gap Between Public Opinion and Government Action
Objective: Ensure political representation truly reflects the will and interests of the American people.
Strategies:
- Accountability and Representation: Hold politicians accountable for their promises and policies, ensuring they genuinely reflect the constituents they represent. Implement scores and analytics to assess alignment between constituent desires and political advocacy, highlighting discrepancies and motivating greater fidelity in representation.
- Engagement Platforms: Utilize forums, focus groups, and polling to engage citizens in meaningful conversations that directly influence political outcomes. These platforms will also be instrumental in tech-assisted consensus aggregation, using sophisticated algorithms to identify and quantify common ground among diverse opinions.
- Revitalizing Democratic Ideals: Restore the essence of “we the people” as envisioned by our forefathers by building consensus through new debate structures, both online and in-person. Focus on evolving policy-making processes to prioritize broad agreement over partisan interests, leveraging technology to enhance transparency and inclusivity in these discussions.
2. Level the Playing Field & Make Third-Parties/Independents Viable
We can’t change the rules, but we can change the game!
Objective: Create an equitable political landscape where all candidates, including third-parties and independents, have a fair chance to succeed.
Strategies:
- Multi-Partisanship: Mainstream the concept of multi-partisanship and actively educate citizens about the widespread support for giving third-parties/independents equal footing with major party candidates.
- Equal Visibility: Provide all politicians equal exposure regardless of their financial backing, showcasing them equally on the Digital Democracy (DD) platform.
- Politician Report Cards: Implement comprehensive evaluations of politicians’ financial interests and biases, reducing the influence of money in politics and promoting a system where integrity and policy efficacy are paramount.
3. Digestible Politics & Informed Citizenship
Educate, empower, evolve
Objective: Simplify the political landscape to make it more navigable for everyday citizens, emphasizing transparent, evidence-based decision-making.
Strategies:
- One-Stop Information Hub: Transform DD into a comprehensive platform that serves as a one-stop-shop for all political stakeholders—parties, politicians, activists, and journalists—providing unbiased political information to citizens. This hub will not only offer clear data on politicians, their policies, and voting records, but will also help connect citizens with stakeholders that resonate with their values.
- Politician Report Cards: Simplify decision-making with easy-to-understand Report Cards that evaluate politicians based on issues pertinent to the users, guiding citizens on who best aligns with their personal values and policy priorities.
- Navigating Information Effectively: Design DD to strip away the fluff, ultra-partisanship, and misinformation that often plague political discourse. By streamline information consumption and access to clear, data-driven insights, the platform will empower users to critically evaluate information and better understand complex issues.
Essential Components to Restore Democracy
These are the key policies and concepts designed to address the most significant challenges facing our democracy today. Each policy or concept represents a critical step toward creating a more transparent, accountable, and inclusive political system.
1. Eliminating Money in Politics
Problem: The overwhelming influence of corporate donors, super PACs, and dark money has distorted the democratic process, allowing financial power to overshadow the will of the people.
Solution: FiNC proposes a multi-layered approach to drastically reduce and eventually eliminate the influence of money in politics:
- Leveling the Playing Field: Utilizing the Digital Democracy (DD) platform to showcase all politicians equally, regardless of their financial backing. This ensures that every candidate has the opportunity to reach voters without the need for substantial financial resources.
- Transparency Through Technology: Track and display all campaign contributions and stock market investments in real time. This will provide an unprecedented level of transparency and allow voters to see exactly where candidates’ funding comes from.
- Educational Campaigns: Launch initiatives to raise public awareness about the effects of money in politics. This includes workshops, seminars, and online content that explain how financial contributions can affect policy and governance.
- Policy Advocacy: Work within the Digital Politics (DP) framework to advocate for legislative changes that limit the amount of money that can be legally contributed and spent in political campaigns. This includes supporting laws for public financing of campaigns and stricter enforcement of campaign finance violations.
- Empowering Grassroots Movements: Support and collaborate with grassroots organizations that are committed to reforming campaign finance. By aligning with these groups, FiNC can amplify the push for changes at both local and national levels.
Implementation:
- Politician Report Cards: These will serve as a central feature on the DD platform, revealing politicians’ financial interests and biases to provide transparency about their funding sources. This visibility acts as a deterrent against undue influence.
- Equal Voice on DD: Regardless of a candidate’s fundraising capabilities—whether they raise $50,000 or $50 million—they will have an equal opportunity to present their campaigns. This policy ensures that a candidate’s merit and policy positions, rather than financial power, are the key factors in their visibility and success.
- Regulatory Push: Promote the implementation of laws that require full disclosure of campaign finances and restrict dark money contributions. Collaborate with policymakers to craft regulations that reduce the influence of money in politics.
2. Holding Politicians Accountable
Problem: Politicians frequently break promises or act against public interest, leading to a lack of accountability and diminishing trust in government.
Solution: DD will enhance accountability by tracking politicians’ promises and measuring their fulfillment through their Politician Report Cards and DD Scores. Additionally, the platform will utilize consensus data to assess how well politicians’ actions align with the views and needs of their constituents. This data-driven approach ensures that assessments are not only based on promises but also on the actual desires of the electorate.
- Politician Report Cards: These cards will document and update the promises made by politicians, their voting records, and their policy impacts, providing a transparent and ongoing assessment of their performance.
- DD Scores: These scores will be dynamically updated based on data gathered from a variety of sources, including public polling and direct feedback mechanisms, to reflect how well politicians align with their constituents’ expectations and needs.
- Consensus Data Comparison: Incorporating advanced analytics to process consensus data, the platform will provide insights into the extent to which politicians adhere to the collective will of their voters, offering a more nuanced view of their alignment and responsiveness.
Implementation:
- Promote Political Accountability: FiNC will educate the public on the importance of accountability in politics, emphasizing how the Politician Report Cards, DD Scores, and consensus data can be powerful tools in evaluating political representatives.
- Integration in Voting Decisions: Encouraging voters to utilize these tools when making voting decisions. This approach empowers voters with detailed, data-backed insights into their representatives’ true performance and alignment with constituent interests.
- Feedback Mechanism: The platform will feature a feedback system where voters can directly contribute their views and experiences, which will be used to refine and enhance the accuracy of the DD Scores and consensus analysis. This creates a cyclical improvement process, ensuring the tools evolve with political and social dynamics.
3. Overcoming Media Bias and Misinformation
Problem: Mainstream media often perpetuates manufactured consent, favoring establishment narratives and suppressing dissenting voices. This leads to a skewed public perception and diminishes the quality of democratic discourse.
Solution: DD will promote a more truthful and unbiased news landscape by offering a network of independent journalists and other objective information sources. To further incentivize accuracy and impartiality in reporting, DD will introduce a news rating system that allows citizens to evaluate journalist outlets based on the accuracy of information, partisanship, and presence of other biases.
- News Network on DD: The platform will feature a dedicated section for citizen-vetted independent journalist outlets, providing resources and visibility to those committed to truthful reporting.
- News Rating System: Citizens will have the ability to rate and review journalist outlets. These ratings will be based on several criteria, including factual accuracy, non-partisanship, and the absence of undue biases. High ratings will boost the visibility of these journalists on the platform, incentivizing them to maintain high standards of integrity and objectivity.
- Transparency and Accountability Features: Each journalist outlet will have a detailed profile that includes their rating, user reviews, and links to evaluated articles, providing transparency and helping users make informed choices about their information sources.
Implementation: The DD platform will serve as a hub for independent journalism and other objective information sources, providing diverse perspectives and break free from establishment-driven narratives.
4. Implementing Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV)
Problem: The current winner-takes-all system fosters extreme partisanship and discourages third-party and independent candidates. This system often forces voters to choose the “lesser of two evils” rather than a candidate who truly represents their views and values.
Solution: Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) provides a fairer electoral process, allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference, encouraging broader representation, and reducing the “lesser of two evils” dilemma.
Implementation:
- Advocacy for Legislative Change: FiNC will promote the adoption of RCV at local, state, and federal levels and highlight politicians who oppose this change as taking an anti-democratic stance. Additionally, FiNC will support and strengthen grassroots movements that back these initiatives, aiding them in achieving their objectives and advancing the cause of electoral reform.
- Digital Primaries: Recognizing the challenges of implementing RCV in the current political climate—where dominant parties may perceive it as a threat to their control—FiNC plans to introduce Digital Primaries on the DD platform. These primaries will not be legally binding but will serve as a practical demonstration of RCV. They will allow citizens to vote using RCV to determine the most electable candidates outside the 2 establishment choices. These primaries will help build consensus around preferred candidates, providing a clearer picture of public opinion and candidate viability ahead of general elections.
5. Making Third-Parties & Independents Viable
Problem: The political landscape is heavily biased towards the two major parties, stifling the growth of third-parties and independents, despite most Americans desiring more diverse political representation.
Solution: As we progress towards the implementation of each Essential Component, we significantly advance our political system towards more choices and inclusivity of higher-quality candidates. Each step removes barriers, paving the way for third-parties and independents to thrive.
Implementation:
- Highlighting politicians based on their policies and public support, rather than their financial resources, encourages a more inclusive political environment.
- DD will feature an innovative “Electability Score” that reflects each candidate’s popularity and genuine public support. This score will help overcome traditional biases by highlighting the true competitive potential of all candidates, regardless of party affiliation or having establishment support.
- By employing Digital Primaries that foster consensus-building around alternative candidates, we encourage citizens to explore voting options beyond their traditional choices without diluting the effectiveness of their vote.
These Essential Components, taken together, form the backbone of FiNC’s Blueprint to Restore Democracy, creating a more transparent, accountable, and equitable political system that truly represents the will of the American people.
Implementation Framework
The Implementation Framework outlines the strategies and steps to actualize FiNC’s Blueprint to Upgrade Democracy. This structured approach ensures that each objective is addressed with clear goals, methods, and expected outcomes. Here’s how FiNC plans to implement the blueprint:
1. Digital Democracy (DD) Platform
Objective: Provide a comprehensive platform that integrates all essential components, enabling citizens to access unbiased information about politicians, their funding sources, and their voting records, while also aggregating public opinion to reflect true citizen consensus.
Method:
- Develop and launch the DD platform, offering tools for political engagement, including Politician Report Cards, Political Matchmaker, and a hub for independent journalism and grassroots activists.
- Integrate tech-assisted consensus aggregation tools to gather and analyze citizen feedback through advanced polling, surveys, and other feedback mechanisms. This feature will work alongside the Politician Report Cards to provide a dual function: presenting factual information about politicians and capturing a precise measure of public opinion on a wide range of issues.
Expected Outcome:
- Create a centralized platform that not only empowers citizens and promotes accountability but also precisely reflects public sentiment on political issues, thereby enhancing the representative nature of the political process.
- Ensure that the platform serves as a comprehensive resource where citizens can both learn about their representatives and see a true reflection of national consensus on key issues, which supports informed decision-making and fosters a more engaged citizenry.
2. Unifying Grassroots Political Organizations, Independent Journalists, and Underdog Politicians
Objective: Unite grassroots political groups, independent journalists, underdog politicians, and average citizens to support common goals to upgrade democracy.
Method: Establish partnerships with like-minded organizations, host forums and focus groups, and engage in community outreach to build consensus around key issues plaguing democracy. DD will act as a hub for these groups and centralize their voices.
Expected Outcome: A cohesive meta-movement that amplifies the voices of grassroots groups and creates a strong, united front for change.
3. Informing the Public
Objective: Raise awareness about the critical need to address the flaws in our democracy, emphasizing that a truly representative democracy cannot be achieved while these flaws persist, such as rampant influence of money in politics. This objective also aims to inform citizens about the structural issues that undermine democracy, including extreme partisanship, corporate influence, and a lack of accountability among elected officials.
Method: Launch public education campaigns, utilize social media, and collaborate with independent journalists to inform citizens about the benefits of FiNC’s Blueprint and the role they can play in its success.
Expected Outcome: A more informed and engaged electorate that understands the need for change and supports the Blueprint’s objectives. By educating the public, FiNC seeks to empower individuals to demand reforms that lead to a political system that genuinely reflects the will of the people.
4. Creating Accountability Mechanisms
Objective: Enhance accountability by using comprehensive data to hold politicians accountable for their promises and actions, ensuring they align with the true consensus among their constituents.
Method:
- Use Politician Report Cards, DD Scores, and other tools to track politicians’ performance, highlight those who break promises, and encourage voters to hold them accountable at the polls.
- Use aggregated consensus data to track politicians’ alignment with public opinion, highlighting discrepancies between their promises/actions and the public’s preferences.
Expected Outcome: A political environment where accountability is not only about tracking promises but also about aligning politicians’ actions with the verified will of the people. Empowering voters with clear, data-driven insights will ensure politicians are incentivized to truly represent the interests of their constituents.
5. Promoting a Multi-Partisan Political System
Objective: Level the playing field to ensure third-parties and independents have a fair chance to compete in elections.
Method: Implement Ranked Choice Voting, reduce the influence of money in politics, and overcome media bias to encourage more competition and diversity in the political landscape.
Expected Outcome: A more inclusive political system that provides equal opportunities for all candidates, fostering a healthy democracy with greater representation.
The Implementation Framework is crucial for maintaining momentum and providing stability as FiNC’s Blueprint to Upgrade Democracy takes shape. By addressing immediate needs, they create a smoother path toward achieving the Blueprint’s long-term goals.
Long-term Goals and Objectives
The Blueprint to Upgrade Democracy outlines ambitious long-term goals designed to create a transformative impact on the political landscape. These objectives serve as a roadmap to achieving a more representative and accountable democracy.
1. Achieving a Majority of Democracy-Approved Politicians
Goal: Elect a majority of politicians across local, state, and federal levels who are committed to principles of transparency, accountability, and citizen representation.
Objective: Promote politicians who prioritize the public’s interests over corporate influence, ensuring they align with the core values of their constituents.
Transformative Impact: A political system that reflects the will of the people, leading to greater trust in government and a more effective democracy.
2. Passing Constitutional Amendments
Goal: Advocate for and secure constitutional amendments that address key issues undermining democracy, such as money in politics and electoral fairness.
Objective: Work with elected officials, grassroots organizations, and the public to build support for amendments that promote democratic ideals and ensure a level playing field in politics.
Transformative Impact: Structural changes to the constitution that create a more transparent and equitable political system, paving the way for lasting reforms.
3. Transition from Extreme Partisanship to Consensus Policy-Making
Goal: Shift the political environment from rigid partisanship to consensus-based policy-making, fostering collaboration and reducing polarization.
Objective: The DD platform will have built-in polling mechanisms to measure the consensus of citizens on key issues. This data will be used to inform policy-making and promote cooperation among politicians. Initially, we’ll aggregate our own polling data with reputable pollsters, but as more citizens adopt the platform, DD’s polling will become the leading source of public opinion.
Implementation: Use DD’s focus groups, forums, and polling features to gauge the consensus among Americans. This information will be used to encourage politicians to prioritize evidence-based decision-making and collaborate across party lines.
Transformative Impact: By promoting consensus policy-making, FiNC aims to create a political environment where policies are based on public support and collaboration, rather than extreme partisanship. This will create a political landscape where policies are evaluated based on merit rather than party affiliation, leading to more constructive dialogue and cooperative decision-making.
These long-term goals and objectives form the foundation of FiNC’s Blueprint, driving the effort to restore democracy’s core values and creating a political system that serves the interests of all Americans.
Ending the “Lesser of 2 Evils” Cycle
For far too long, voters have been compelled to choose between the lesser of two evils– an establishment-approved Democrat vs establishment-approved Republican– selecting candidates not based on alignment with their values but on avoiding the worst possible outcome.
This voting dilemma often leaves third-party and independents candidates, who might align more closely with voters’ values, labeled as “unelectable” due to perceived low viability and the risk of “splitting” the vote.
Additionally, the primary systems of the DNC and RNC often stack the deck against non-establishment candidates. Regardless of a candidate’s popularity or alignment with public sentiment, if they do not meet the established, often pro-corporate criteria, party mechanisms and narratives will work to undermine their candidacy and present them as unelectable to the public.
FiNC’s Blueprint to Upgrade Democracy envisions a future where we transcend this paradigm.
A Call for Change: FiNC aims to break this cycle permanently, making this the last election where voters feel they must choose between two undesirable options. Our Blueprint seeks to pave the way for a more diverse and representative political landscape, where every vote truly counts and every voice can be heard.
Strategy to Break the Cycle: To dismantle this entrenched voting dilemma, FiNC’s strategy integrates various components of our Blueprint. Key mechanisms provided by the DD platform and Digital Politics framework will empower voters to select from a broader range of candidates who genuinely represent their interests and values. This strategy, supported by the Essential Components and Implementation Framework outlined in our Blueprint, is designed to disrupt the status quo and foster a truly democratic electoral process.
A New Path Forward: Our Blueprint encourages voters to look beyond traditional party lines and assess candidates based on their policies, integrity, and commitment to serving the public. Through a combination of grassroots organizing, public education, and strategic partnerships, FiNC will drive a shift towards multi-partisanship and consensus policy-making, ensuring that future elections offer genuine choices that reflect the will of the people.
Bridging the Gap: To make this the last election of the lesser of two evils, FiNC will work tirelessly to build a robust coalition of grassroots organizations, underdog politicians, and engaged citizens. By fostering dialogue and collaboration, FiNC aims to bridge the gap between public opinion and government action, ensuring that future elections are about choosing the best candidates, not just the least objectionable.
Join the Meta-Movement: We invite you to be part of this meta-movement to end the cycle of uninspiring elections and transform our democratic process. Together, we can create a political system that empowers voters to make choices that align with their values and beliefs. By supporting FiNC, you’re helping to lay the foundation for a new era of democracy, where the voices of the people are paramount and respected.