Last week, I went public with my bid to become the next U.S. Senator from Wyoming. I have no political experience—just a clean slate. The campaign began at the Central Wyoming Fair, where I rented a booth not to give a speech, but to start a conversation. And the first thing I did was listen.
I’ve never truly felt heard. Not after an election. Not when it matters most. Not when legislation is debated behind closed doors—especially on hot button topics like public land sales or emergency powers. I’ve written my representatives. I’ve raised my hand. But the truth is, once the votes are counted, the conversation ends.
And yet, something different happened at that booth.
When I asked people how we could manage our public lands more responsibly, ideas emerged that I had never heard in any official debate. One gentleman spoke about a section of BLM land near Midwest, Wyoming, another near Jackson Hole. He said some public land may need to be released if it’s directly hindering the growth of our towns.
Another person said something that stuck with me:
*"We don’t trust the federal government to sell that land and use the money wisely. But maybe the BLM could donate the land to the state as school sections, and let local school boards decide how to use it."
That idea—local stewardship, local benefit—might have widespread support. But it was never proposed. Never debated. Because we never had the conversation.
That’s the problem. That’s the opportunity.
The Dream
Imagine if there was a public platform—open to all, tamper-proof, and secure—where we could:
Set up a secure account, verify our identity, and choose or enter the topics most important to us—receiving notice when those topics appear in pending legislation.
Weigh in: Support. Oppose. Need more info. Get feedback from others within our system of government and see, in numbers, where we stand amongst each other. A tool for transparency and accountability is born.
See how our representatives respond. A tool for accountability is born.
Identify what issues matter most to us, not what lobbyists or billionaires decide. A tool empowering our voice is born.
Now imagine that tool in the hands of students—used in high schools as a civic education project. They may not be part of the constituency yet but we can certainly hear their voices. Imagine universities auditing the security, community leaders guiding discussions, and every citizen able to speak not just for themselves, but alongside others with feed back.
This isn’t about complaining. It’s about building.
This is not just tech—it’s a question of right and wrong.
This is the start of a seven-day journey to create something better:
A civic tool we can trust.
The Principles
This tool must be:
Public – anyone can inspect, contribute, or audit it.
Secure – protected from tampering and corporate capture.
Trusted – not because it's perfect, but because we can verify it.
Usable – by students, teachers, ranchers, veterans, and anyone with a voice.
Because trust has been broken. And we have the tools to rebuild it.
Technology today can help us do more than argue—we can collaborate. We can use machine intelligence to monitor integrity, enforce transparency, and ensure our voices aren’t drowned out one by one, but raised together. Not in anger, not for profit, but in search of a shared truth.
Let’s set clear guidelines. Let’s encourage honesty and grace. Let’s make this a place where the least among us feels safe to speak—and the greatest among us have the wisdom to listen.
This isn’t just about software.
This is about restoring the conversation.
Together.
The Outline
Here’s what comes next:
Day 2: The process and platform—how we’re building this with simple, auditable tools.
Day 3: A real-world test—how this app could work, step by step.
Day 4: Scaling and security—how we defend the truth and protect your voice.
Day 5: The will of the representative—how this tool empowers those who serve.
Day 6: The legacy we leave—what it means to co-create the future of democracy.
📣 Join the Conversation
What would you want to know before weighing in on an issue that matters to you?
What features would you want in a civic tool?
What fears do you have?
What would restore your trust?
Leave a reply, share your thoughts, or just start the conversation with someone near you. Good ideas don’t need permission. And if we build this together—with courage, with humility, with truth—then the best of our ideas and the worst of our fears can meet to find a better path forward.
Because this is us. And it’s time to be heard.
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