On June 11 we held the first Tech for Democracy event. Technologists got together on Zoom for an hour to talk about where we fit in this fight.
We built it as a first try — a true MVP. We wanted something real in front of people so we could learn, and we did.
We heard from some great people and I'm glad we kicked it off.
You shared a lot of feedback and we are listening.
Here's what we heard. People are excited to belong to and to do something.
But, we need to be clearer. Clearer about who we are, what we want, and how you can help. I felt that too. As exciting as the event was for us, we know the next one needs to be more clear and focused.
We also got a lot of comments on one word we used a lot: progressive. People had strong feelings, in both directions. So here is our answer. I was hesitant to change it because of what I personally ascribe to the word; but have come to really see that it can get in the way of what we want to do.
So, we are going to try and lead with our values, not a label. Call it progressive, liberal, left, democratic, whatever you want. We are not running from the words and we are not going to argue about them. We wrote down what we actually believe and what we are trying to accomplish. It is a working draft and we want your comments.
We are inspired by JFK's perspective here:
"If by a 'Liberal' they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people, their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties... then I'm proud to say I'm a 'Liberal.'"
The other interesting development is that twelve days after our event, Alex Bores lost his primary.
He is exactly who we exist to get into government. An engineer who understands the technology and governs with true <<insert potentially polarizing word here>> values. He wrote and passed AI regulation in Albany and took on the platforms. More than thirty million dollars in outside money flooded that race. A pro-AI super PAC spent at least eight million to beat him. He lost by four points.
That is the problem in one race. The people who understand technology and with whom we share values, are not winning these seats yet, and there is serious money working to keep them out. The answer is not to back off. It is to get more of them in.
That is what our next event on July 28 is about.
Our next event is built around four doors. Run for office. Work on a campaign. Build the tools. Advise the people writing the laws.
A door only matters if there is somewhere to go through it. So we are building the map behind each one. The campaigns that need staff. The candidates who need tech. The offices that need someone who actually understands what they are voting on. Some of those connections exist. Some we have to build.
That is the help we need, two ways. Come on July 28, and bring someone who should be in this. And if you know the orgs, campaigns, programs, or offices that belong behind these doors, tell us. Help us stock them, so when someone is ready to act, we can point them somewhere real.
Step up, step in.
Mark Josephson
Founder, Tech for Democracy