I vote and I protest, but yet those with money continue to corrupt the system. I feel much more like a victim of the system than a participant.
How would you suggest a typical American HN reader go about effecting change?
How would you suggest a typical American HN reader go about effecting change?
Their two flagship projects (GetCalFresh and Criminal Justice) reform both started off as simple web forms to make it easier to file for SNAP (food stamps) and sealing eligible marijuana convictions respectively. However as they gained traction they were able to engage state and local governments as collaborators and significantly improve the outcomes.
For the criminal justice work that meant fully automating sealing convictions in San Francisco, that then provided the “proof” for a state bill that passed to require all California counties to do the same over then next few years.
So while it seems like getting money out of politics is impossible I’d suggest working on stuff you care about at your state level, and providing working proofs will help people trying to support sensible legislation for reform.
You can't fix everything with a website.
Or pre-wrote everything one needs to complain to the regulator about a bull-shit charge and get their $ back.
It certainly takes a certain mindset to take advantage of the above, but making it easier encourages it.
The above are two things I’ll be publishing tonight. There’s a few hundred thousand people in my mom’s town that suddenly have a decent internet option.
If you're not sure where to start, try researching local candidates that share your views and find out which organizations endorsed them.
If you really want change, then you need to somehow climb the ladder of power and enact the changes yourself. Unfortunately, if you take the political or corporate path, you will most likely be so disillusioned by the time you get anywhere that you will join the other side.
You can also become a revolutionary of sorts, by leading others through your charisma or prose.
Of course none of these are anything a "typical" person can do, but in fact, a "typical" person really has no power whatsoever unless someone atypical manages to organize them together.