DemocracyLab will be a political town hall for the 21st Century, open for dialogue at all hours from all corners of our community.
“
65% of Oregonians say they would be very or somewhat likely to anonymously vote and comment on political issues online if they thought their input would be processed and reported in such a way as to directly affect the policies implemented by their state and local government.
”
–– Davis, Hibbitts, & Midghall Inc. Omnibus Survey - December 2007
“
From our initiative and referendum system to vote-by-mail, Oregon has a long history of finding innovative ways to improve the democratic process. I’m excited by the potential of DemocracyLab to build on that tradition by harvesting the best thinking of our citizens to create collaborative solutions to today’s public policy problems.
”
–– Phil Keisling Former Oregon Secretary of State
“
I’ve spent ten years trying to call attention to gaping holes in our online experience, which caters to opinion and rage, but seldom fosters serious discourse. DemocracyLab aims to fill this void by improving the discussion and debate tools available to a vigorous Enlightenment civilization.
”
–– David Brin Hugo and Nebula Award winning author
DemocracyLab is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, dedicated to improving the democratic process and producing collaborative solutions to public policy problems. We need your support to make our vision a reality. To get involved, call 503-780-7829 or write info@democracylab.org.
To make a tax deductible contribution, please: 1
Visit democracylab.org/donate or
2
ail a check to: M DemocracyLab 522 SW Fifth Ave, Suite 917 Portland, OR 97204
Introducing DemocracyLab.org An experiment in direct democracy, powered by open source software, and built on the idea that technology can empower us to harness freedom of speech and the power of the vote to solve today’s most challenging problems.
How it works
What We Stand For DemocracyLab is founded on the principles of collaboration, transparency, meritocracy, and the wisdom and power of the many. We will combine advanced technology and human insight to create a political town hall for the 21st Century.
A participant-structured forum for political dialogue and collaboration Our community has “issues” Today our country faces daunting challenges. To some, the top issues are environmental. To others, they are economic. But to our way of thinking, our biggest challenges stem from disengagement. Many people feel powerless because they have few ways to constructively engage with our political system and are often frustrated by those who place party affiliation ahead of effective solutions.
Coming together to create solutions We believe that people want to engage in their communities and help solve our country’s problems, but they need the flexibility to do so in their own way and at their own pace. DemocracyLab’s participant-structured format makes it easy to dive in as deep or as shallow as you’d like. Participants will be drawn to the site to share their views, collaborate with others, problem-solve, and learn. Together we will form a community that will reach those in power and become an influential force in politics.
DemocracyLab will use the posts and votes of its users to build a dynamic map of political thought. Participants will evaluate issues, connecting statements of their values to the positions they support and the policies they advocate. The website will identify consensus where it exists, and where it doesn’t, productively focus discussion at the point of disagreement. Just as competition in a fair market and evolution in nature select for success, fierce debate will lead to the best possible solutions to contentious political problems. The end result will be an engaging public forum where the best thinking rises to the top, creating a community-driven alternative to traditional politics. By combining human insight and advanced technology, we will provide an unprecedented experience for the diverse citizens, activists, educators, policy makers, and strategists who will comprise our community.