— The Renewal of Politics Begins with Trust
Trust is the Coin of the Realm
How Civic Voting enables politicians to build trust with voters.
— 01 · The Foundation
Seven Virtues Required for Building Trust
- Veracity | The quality of being honest and consistent with facts and reality.
- Competency | Demonstrating skills and abilities required to perform a particular job or role.
- Reliability | The quality of performing consistently well.
- Accountability | The willingness to take responsibility, answer to others, and maintain transparent communication.
- Engagement | A commitment to active involvement and shared goals.
- Encouragement | The action of giving others support, confidence, and hope.
- Empowerment | Authority or power given to others to do something.
— 02 · In Practice
How Civic Voting Operationalizes These Virtues
- Veracity → Issues are educationally presented as practical problems to be solved.
- Competency → Introduction of Civic Voting demonstrates politician’s skill in representing constituent concerns.
- Reliability → Ongoing, interactive engagement establishes politician’s responsiveness to voter input.
- Accountability → Mutual review of Civic Voting results and politician’s voting record in Congress.
- Engagement → Conveniently meets voters where they are online.
- Encouragement → Commitment to put the voice of the people first in politics.
- Empowerment → Gives voters political agency and a role to play in determining issues & policies that affect them.
— 03 · The Result
Civic Voting Reunites Politicians and Voters at a New Level of Participatory Democracy
Trust is a two-way street within a relationship, involving mutual or reciprocal action and obligation.
- Politicians trust voters to be active, well-informed citizens → given the proper resources. Voters trust politicians to be honest, responsive representatives → given the right incentives.
- The under-reported reality is most voters agree on many issues of common concern, if presented as practical problems to be solved, according to the American Communities Project.
- At mass-scale, Civic Voting gives voters a powerful voice, and in turn provides politicians with the political will to overcome the disconnect between popular policies and status quo political inaction.
- Politicians deploying Civic Voting are in a unique leadership position, because constituents will know from direct experience that these politicians are genuinely committed to establishing a trustworthy relationship with voters.
- The People First! Voter Engagement Strategy enables politicians to reach out to all voters to establish a new relationship focused on empowering constituents and fortifying responsive, political representation.
— 04 · Conclusion
Americans Are Ready for Transformative Change
“Citizens want a stronger public voice in politics; and their valuation of democracy is directly tied to a sense of having a voice in government.”
— Pew Research
“77% say the U.S. political system requires major changes or complete structural reform.”
— Pew Research
The Way Forward
Civic Voting equips change-agent politicians to lead the way forward to renew politics and democracy in America.