Now that finals are over, maybe you have more time to consider this idea? Propose, discuss, and vote on public policy ideas. If it catches on, I believe the most popular ideas stand a good chance of becoming law.

-- GregOrr - 28 May 2012

Regarding Facebook, I too dislike Facebook's monitoring and data collection. I am not using Facebook login or automatic posting options, though I do have 'like' for the site and 'share' for the ideas. I need to get it out there through social networks, and I hope to do so with a minimum of invasiveness.

For right now, the key thing is to get people started using it. So join! Tell your friends!

Greg I think this is a phenomenal idea. I would like a discussion section for laws that are going to appear on local ballots. When I look at a ballot it is often the first time I am learning about current issues and the first time I am considering the potential effects of those issues. I would love an internet platform that lists all laws/$$ allocation decisions that I am going to have the opportunity to vote on in an upcoming election, so that I can see get the opinions of fellow voters. I would also feel more comfortable if the site was not linked to facebook. All in all I really like the idea!

-- SkylarPolansky - 07 May 2012

I took this class three years ago, and I've actually followed through on a brain-wave partially started here (see BottomUpIdea).

Like many of you, I've been upset with our government for being unable to come together in a reasonable way to solve problems, and disturbed by the extent to which money and special interests determine public policy outcomes.

During the height of the Occupy protests in October, I thought what they needed was a web platform for policy debate and engagement with / assessment of political candidates. This is what I've created with The 99 Percent Votes (the99percentvotes.com or, as a shortened url, the99vote.com). It allows you to submit public policy ideas, discuss, vote, and identify like-minded candidates. See How It Works. I think this system can change "politics as usual" and update government for the 21st century. It's designed to work at local, state, national, and international levels across a full range of policy categories and subcategories.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at greg@the99percentvotes.com. I've also set up a Site Development section for people to report bugs and suggest ideas for further development. And I will check in on this thread and participate in any discussion.

I hope you find it fun and useful. Let's make government work bottom-up rather than top-down!

Thanks, Greg

-- GregOrr - 04 May 2012