Restoring
FREE AND EQUAL
elections requires game-changing innovation.
Wilson’s Fountain reforms the relationship between politicians and money.
A constitutional principle resurfaces.
In 1790, Constitutional author and Supreme Court Justice James Wilson called free and equal elections “the original fountain” from which all of democracy flows. He warned that if that fountain is poisoned, all branches of government would suffer gravely.
A strategy to defeat gerrymandering.
Today, gerrymandering—the reshaping of districts to give one party an outsized advantage—has proven Wilson right in ways he never imagined. “Safe” contests where money controls the electoral process create extreme representatives responsible for the toxic dysfunction we see today.
Wilson’s Fountain is a way to elevate the candidates who will broadly represent their district or state. It restores “one person, one vote,” while dampening the influence of money, which is now the loudest voice in government.
A novel use of the political committee system.
It starts with a repurposing of our political committee system, which is responsible for delivering elections. FEC regulations govern how committees can handle money. Unfortunately, financial incentives inherent in the system motivates career politicians to represent their party over their constituents. Technology, combined with a paradigm shift, allows the same committee system to restore democracy as the Framers intended.
Wilson’s Fountain is comprised of three components.
The “pump” in Wilson’s Fountain is a political committee built on technology. It hosts the free and equal contest.
A local committee runs the nominating contest and customizes it for the district.
A Super PAC manages an uncoordinated general election media campaign for the contest winner.
Technology creates a new experience.
A free and equal contest delivered on the web will dramatically increase constituent participation. It elevates candidates motivated to serve local interests and thereby improves the quality of representation. Potential officeholders have unfettered access to constituents, and vice versa. Civic engagement is initiated by the constituent, not an intrusion on their television or cell phone.
Exactly how does Wilson’s Fountain work?
