Decentralized Civics: A New Era
by KylerW56
As the sun sets on another year of ETH Denver and hacking, we wanted to follow up with you all regarding our week of learning, discussion, and building DeVox. First and foremost, we want to thank each and every one of you for your contributions throughout the week: “No man is an island…”. We are in the infancy of this project, and our work together helped build a foundation strong and tall enough from which to direct our vision. Thank you for listening, thinking, discussing, and buidling with us.
This letter will be at once a reflection of what we accomplished in our short time together, and a window into the future of DeVox and Lobby3. There is a lot to be done if we’re to be ready for the 2024 election cycle. After we have reviewed our accomplishments so far, we will set the stage for our next steps, and kindly ask that those of you who wish to continue with this project identify areas in which you can continue to help build the future of democracy. This is, of course, not mandatory at all. The choice belongs to you. But allow me to say I sincerely hope to continue working with all of you in some capacity or another. For better or worse, you’ve now entered the ranks of my digital family.
Bricks & Mortar
by Aphilos
I was nervous about ETH Denver going in. Lobby3 covered half the condo fees so we could focus on DeVox, but I wasn’t sure how on board everyone was, or whether the money would be well spent. At first I got a little push back as I mechanically engaged people utilizing the DeVox House to spread the word about our decentralized lobbying protocol, DeVox, but such a transactional approach was really missing the value of the community that eventually came together that week. Rather than control and enforce, we trusted and discussed; Everyone at the DeVox house was already a Lobby3 Member, and their interests likely overlapped with ours in ways we hadn’t yet imagined. Since DeVox was mostly a figment in our imaginations, posturing like we had it figured out was likely going to be seen for what it was, it was much more effective to put our best foot forward and listen to whatever was reflected back by the members we trusted.
As people trickled in that first weekend it became clear how much support we actually had for DeVox, Lobby3, and the concepts they represent. The first few days were all about practicing how we pitched, learning how to talk about and describe DeVox from each of our points of view. These practices in self description evolved into practices of understanding, philosophical musings, and many, many deep discussions. Decentralized civics is as new to us as it is to everyone else, and by discussing within the DeVox house, with people whose interests overlapped with ours, we gained comprehension and the confidence to explain the idea to the people in our individual circles. The speed of the conceptual evolution was dizzying. In almost no time devs were signing up to visit the house and get to know us, and giving interviews was a breeze.
We learned quickly what was easiest and what needed to be rethought. Web23 tech is critical to DeVox, there’s far more money in Web2 than Web3, as well as popular political energy to influence politicians, and our entire branding and promotional strategy depended on what capabilities we could provide Web2 users.
Decentralized identity (DID) is critical to legitimacy and public optics of DeVox. We need to know that votes in a DeVox campaign matter to politicians we approach, otherwise why would they take a chance on us. If we ever did have a significant effect on elections, we’re sure to be attacked in the press, affecting the performance of future DeVox campaigns, and so we need to be able to prove campaigns are the will of voters affecting politicians. There are a number of DID solutions by Holonym, Magic.link, Raid Guild, Meem.wtf, and others. Being able to communicate the value of DID setup conversations with these dev groups, a key goal of Lobby3 supporting the DeVox House.
Lobby3 has funds, but getting DeVox ready for the 2024 election cycle is a serious challenge, especially if we’re going to include Web2 users. Branding DeVox so people will recognize us across the formats in which they happen to engage us is extremely important, and can 10x the retention rate of new donors and users. The DeVox House conversations highlighted this need and focused efforts on recruiting marketing expertise.
As the pressure of finding good devs started to subside, devs that might submit proposals to our RFPs or could help assemble the right team, the energy began to focus on the other actors surrounding DeVox. Who would Lobby3 actually be approaching about DeVox? We landed on four primary actors we need to cultivate relationships with:
Community Advocates that need political support
Buidlers and Contributors
Lobbyists and political influencers
PR and marketing expertise
With clear actors identified, it was a blast testing our pitches and we had positive feedback from just about every community advocate we approached. We are currently managing a quilt of excellent dev talent, pivoting and focusing to bring the best of the worlds we discovered at ETH Denver together. Renee has launched the Lobbyist Collective, a critical part of DeVox and Lobby3 in general.
The camaraderie at ETH Denver and the DeVox House warmed my soul. We put ourselves out there, hopeful and eager, not knowing what would come. We’re building a protocol carefully and precisely to wall the garden and ensure the safety of all the future dreams and visions planted here. DeVox house ran the way we hope the new Lobby3 UNA will run, where gaining people’s consent is a benefit, where sovereignty and mandates accelerate progress, where “trust but verify” and “ask forgiveness not approval” are operational standards, and where those who accept liability can lead the organization with the legitimacy of the Members.
Purpose & Camaraderie
by Clinamenic
One of the several reasons I have difficulty explaining what I do to my friends and family is the very nature of the DAO movement, namely the complex and nuanced nature of dozens of complementary organizations and projects working together as a coordinated ecosystem. Many of the ideas at play here are alien and often unapproachable, which is arguably why this space remains so esoteric.
Of these organizations, there are those which utilize on-chain governance mechanisms and arguably qualify as ‘DAOs’ while there are others which do not, yet nonetheless resonate with and support the ethos characteristic of the former. Collectively, these organizations comprise a sort of nexus, each organization a collection of actors who associate based on shared interests and expertise; who together transcend their respective organizations to support and appreciate the interests of the nexus at large.
Here, at this nexus, can be found a sense of camaraderie and purpose which is, arguably, lacking across most of our culture – professional or otherwise. Here,, one not only has a cause worth fighting for, but a league of similarly motivated individuals with whom a mutual respect can be readily forged. Purpose combined with camaraderie can have a galvanizing effect on one’s motivation.
All that said, I hesitate to call this shared attitude revolutionary, because there is not only a prevailing emphasis on compliance with the existing system, but also a fundamental affirmation of this system; that is, an affirmation of capitalism, and a belief that the private sector should exist. But perhaps more important than ideology, is the simple sense of belonging and human connection felt by those in this space. In order for these ideas and practices to widely and memetically resonate with people, they need to come from a deep and meaningful place, from lived experience and genuine belief.
Earth & Water
by KylerW56 and Clinamenic
As we conclude this letter, we want to emphasize the importance of the communal foundation of DeVox. While the technical foundation, built precisely and logically as with Bricks & Mortar (shout-out Aphilos) is crucial, the communal foundation will ultimately be of equal importance to the success of our project. We must foster, grow, and nurture our community organically and gradually with great personal care, just as we would tend to the earth and water comprising our home. These are real human beings with real voices who deserve to be heard. Much like earth and water, in small quantities these voices don’t pose much of a threat – but in large quantities these voices can move in coordinated, precise, devastating instances of action as forces of nature. Now brought to you by blockchain.
Our community, our ethos, and the heart of our project itself, is to provide as clear a picture of the American public as we possibly can; to listen intently, patiently, and carefully to their voices and opinions; and to deliver those messages unfiltered and uncensored to the incumbent elect who so often misinterprets, misunderstands, or disregards entirely the will of the people, whom they have been granted the great opportunity and honor to serve.
If our community is to accurately reflect the beauty, nuance, and heterogeneity of a real American community, then we must be careful to consider all of the following as we nurture the seeds we plant:
The importance of inclusivity
With DeVox, we strongly believe that inclusivity is a key ingredient in the recipe for a successful democracy. When designing and building our platform, we must take into account the diverse needs and perspectives of all people. This means ensuring that the voices of underrepresented communities are heard and included in the decision-making process.
By embracing inclusivity, we can create an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute their unique insights. This not only leads to better outcomes but also promotes a sense of ownership and accountability among all members of our community.
Ensuring the safety and security of our users' data
We take the responsibility of protecting our users' data very seriously. We understand that in order for our platform to be successful, our users must feel confident that their information is secure, that they can participate in this new democratic process without fear of rebuke or retribution, and that they can control the level of privacy they wish to employ.
To achieve this goal, we have implemented a number of measures to safeguard user data. These include zero-knowledge proof verification of members to authenticate jurisdictional location and protect user privacy simultaneously, and regular security audits by third-party experts.
Time is of the essence
We are living in a time where the gap between the will of the people and the will of elected officials is growing larger every day. The decisions that affect our lives are being made behind what amounts to a black curtain, where the public has no access or voice. This is not acceptable in a country that is meant to be of the people, by the people, and for the people.
DeVox is our attempt to address the growing discrepancy between the voice of the people and the actions of elected government officials.
We believe that the foundations and building blocks of a new Operating System for Democracy already exist. We just need to utilize them and make them accessible to the mainstream public in an effective manner.
Together, we can build a future where every voice matters.
Signed,
The Lobby3 Team
