DEMONSTRATION OF COORDINATED ACTION NETWORKS
PHILOSOPHY
The graphic above illustrates a way to understand CAN.
Carolina Figureiredo, a doctoral candidate at Princeton noticed that different particle theories share a geometric structure that is much simpler than the calculations traditionally used to describe them, revealing an exciting new view of the geometry of the quantum universe.
CAN asks a similar question about democracy: beneath the phenomena of elections, hearings, polls, campaigns, parties and media, is there an underlying structure through which people understand their shared conditions and connections, form judgments, establish agreement about action, and act collectively?
Carolina’s graphic is analogous to CAN’s strategy, not an improvement of existing procedures; but a new architecture for democracy that is not available with legacy political practices.
THE REASON WHY WE SAY, ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL
THE OBVIOUS IDEA OF DEMOCRACY
People affected by collective decisions should be able to understand their circumstances, determine what they want and act together.
WHY DOESN’T THAT HAPPEN?
THERE IS ALWAYS A REASON WHY SOMETHING LOGICALLY OBVIOUS HASN’T BEEN DONE.
OBSTACLES TO DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA
POLITICAL PARTIES ARE THE INTERFACE BETWEEN LOCAL ORGANIZATION AND NATIONAL DECISION-MAKING
PARTIES EXCLUSIVELY FOCUS ON MOBILIZING ELECTIONS-NOT SOLUTIONS FOR LOCAL PROBLEMS
LOCAL PARTY ORGANIZATIONS EXCLUDE MOST MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
LOCAL PARTY FUNDRAISING REFLECTS A COMMUNITY’S ECONOMIC HIERARCHY
THE PUBLIC HAS NO SAY ABOUT DECISIONS IN BETWEEN ELECTIONS-AND ELECTIONS DO NOT MANDATE POLICY
PARTY PLATFORMS ARE DECIDED BY ELITE COMMITTEES IN RESPONSE TO MAJOR DONORS
POLITICAL PARTIES ARE NOT UNDEMOCRATIC, THEY ARE COUNTER-DEMOCRATIC
EXISTENTIAL RISKS FROM DECISIONS MADE FOR PARTY FUNDING:
Global warming: effects of climate change.
Vulnerability to natural and engineering catastrophes
Warfare
Economic depression.
Pandemic
Insufficient infrastructure
Conflict, crime and violence
PERSISTENT DECLINE IN VOTER PARTICIPATION IN ELECTIONS
THE PUBLIC IS LED BY EMOTIONALLY MANIPULATIVE TARGETED MEDIA
GOVERNMENTS AT ALL LEVELS ARE AFFECTED:
Members of Congress, state assemblies, county supervisors and city council members
are not required to inform constituents, nor to determine what the public wants.
CAN IS DESIGNED TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES TO DEMOCRACY
ANY INCREASE IN PUBLIC POWER REDUCES THE INFLUENCE OF PACS AND ORGANIZED INTERESTS
Those who oppose mail-in voting, who are making voting more difficult, oppose democratic decision-making.
Parts of the CAN strategy may seem superfluous, inefficient, and counter-intuitive if we viewed CAN as software development: community outreach, political organization, project management and cultural and sport events.
INCLUSION OVERCOMES INFLUENCE OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE
The collective agency of organized communities is not asserted nor prohibited by state or federal law
TECHNOLOGY ENDS EXCLUSION
Technology overcomes the logistical problem of inclusion
Communities can empower local expertise and energy with a legal structure based on cooperatives.
CAN’s approach to inclusion and motivating adoption of technology is proven.
Values, needs and priorities differ widely from place to place, however communities have implicit social structure.
The ability of media to manipulate voters has been dominated by the money of PACs, however, an organized community has an edge: common interest and alignment of intention.
Shared fate and mutual intention are the reason why we say, “ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL”.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why begin with cultural participation rather than a political meeting?
Is this just another way for government and advertisers to surveil us?
Why offer practical services before asking people to weigh in?
How much is this going to cost us?
Why preserve disagreement rather than force agreement?
Why organize geographically bounded communities?
Why require local autonomy instead of one central platform?
Why create a durable public record?
Why involve artists, filmmakers, teachers, businesses, professionals, institutions and ordinary residents?
Why make the system useful even when no political question is being decided?