Proposal: Implementing Blockchain Technology for Government Transparency and Public Participation

Economy
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Imagine a government where all actions—spending, laws, and policy decisions—are visible to every citizen, enabling real accountability and participation. By using blockchain technology, we could build a transparent system that not only tracks finances but also empowers citizens to directly influence legislative outcomes. Here’s how it would work:

  1. Blockchain for Financial Transparency:

Complete Financial Record: Every source of government income (like taxes, grants, or loans) would be tracked on the blockchain. Likewise, every government expenditure—from local infrastructure projects to national defense spending—would be recorded.

Public Access: These transactions would be stored on a decentralized blockchain that’s openly accessible to all citizens. This means anyone could verify where taxpayer dollars are coming from and where they’re being spent.

Reduced Corruption: This level of visibility would make it nearly impossible for funds to be misused, as every dollar’s movement could be traced in real-time.

  1. Blockchain for Legislative Transparency:

Transparent Lawmaking Process: Every bill, amendment, and vote would be recorded on the blockchain. Citizens could track a bill’s progress, see who voted for or against it, and monitor changes made to the bill throughout the legislative process.

Single-Issue Bills: To ensure clarity and reduce the “pork-barrel” problem, bills could be required to focus on a single issue. This would prevent unrelated issues from being lumped together, making each bill easier to understand and evaluate.

  1. Citizens’ Right to Vote on Key Issues:

Direct Participation Model: For significant legislation (e.g., national issues), citizens could have a right to vote directly on proposed laws, following a similar model to the presidential race with a mix of popular and electoral voting.

Enhanced Republic Structure: The U.S. could maintain its republic system, where representatives still play a key role, but with a direct citizen vote factored into each major decision. This vote would include both a popular vote (each individual’s vote) and an electoral vote (weighted by state), balancing direct democracy with the representative structure.

Digital Voting Security: Blockchain’s security would ensure that each vote is recorded accurately and cannot be tampered with, protecting the integrity of citizen votes.

  1. Benefits to Citizens and the Country:

Unmatched Transparency: With financial and legislative processes fully visible, citizens could see every government action, restoring faith in the government’s accountability.

True Representation: By voting directly on major issues, citizens gain a say in policies that impact them, making the government more responsive to the public’s needs.

Trustworthy Voting System: The blockchain’s decentralized and tamper-resistant nature would make every vote count securely, encouraging more people to participate and trust in the process.

  1. Why This is the Ideal Solution:

Empowered Citizenship: People could finally feel that their voice genuinely matters, not just in elections but on key issues shaping their lives.

Accountability at Every Level: Whether it’s spending taxpayer dollars or passing new laws, the blockchain would ensure that all actions are visible and answerable to the public.

Strengthening the Republic: By integrating a popular vote with the electoral system, this model respects the U.S. republic’s structure while amplifying the people’s direct role.

This system would make the government as open and participatory as the internet itself. Imagine being able to see not just where taxpayer money is going but also having a direct say in shaping laws that impact our daily lives. It would be a government truly of, by, and for the people.

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I like the basics of this policy and the vision for implementation including the use of blockchain…I would super-charge the policy, particularly section 3, with the ability to vote not just by traditional popular/electoral voting but in a much more granular way - via your federal tax bill…In other words, once a citizens total federal tax owed is calculated, they can allocate those federal dollars in their own way, specifying the federal expense category and the amount they wish to allocate to it, to key federal expenditures/policies. Policies that get no dollars allocated to them (such as studies of gay fruit flies) will just die on the vine. This is giving citizens a level of power even beyond their vote.

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I thought about that too. But also at this level taxing citizens would be off of a voluntary system. Like it was originally supposed to be. Corporations/businesses would be putting in 90%+ and If a citizen donates. Then yes they should have complete control of where that money is being sent to and used for. I would just like to see full transparency throughout. No backdoor deals, no hiding shady shit in bills because the wording they use makes it work another way.
Would also like single item bills only written in plain English for even an uneducated person could understand. And at the same time would love to have 4 extra holidays added on. Ounce a quarter we have off to read through the proposed bills/laws and then we vote on them. Right from your home or wherever you are. This would incentivize people to want to be more active in there communities and government.
I believe we are surely on the right track with this administration and where this country/world could go.

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I like it a lot. Is there a way that we could use a prototype for the system here in Maine, to test out the kinks? I have a system that I wanted to try out that involves open book management and this would be beautiful. Can we find someone or use software to soft launch it while the wheels of progress and getting started?

I think it’s a great idea and I want to try it ASAP, even if it doesn’t take off in Federal yet we can still start it at the county and state level. Holler

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How much wanting to charge? Bc we can use it with now with polls and petitions now. Like the school (don’t remember where) that the parents are all wanting the school board fired bc they allowed a pedophile to stay in the school after he was charged and I think he did it again and another had also been accused and he was still allowed to be there.

We right it and people sign name. Or however your software works?

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I watched Alex Jones well Judge Joe Brown. Alex didn’t speak much (imagine that). Popular in elections even a % isn’t good. My state holds 6 electoral bc of how many people. CA holds whatever bc of the people. If most of the state votes one way in CA that would take and over % the amount in my state X 4 probably. Along with other rural farming states. Bc the high % of people live in states that vote, normal vote the same party. That’s why they made the electoral college so it could be won. By either side. (He explained it better).

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What irritates me. And please do not judge me if you are on the Democratic side and if you follow the house in the Senate, you will understand no matter what side you’re on.
For Republicans to get a bill passed thru house and senate normally they have to add on things, that the democrats wants so they will pass it. Then all of that gets taken $ gets taken out of our $ in the house not theirs. Then on their bills they don’t compromise and somehow get it thru.

Trump had semi two good years. Because we had the house, Last term.
But we had to fight the Senate the first two years was horrible because nothing could get past.

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I really like the idea for transparency, accountability, and single-issue bills. This is beneficial on local, state and federal level.

There is a proposal for a voter information webpage that could be linked with this and be an all encompassing voter information location. Of course it would need to be protected from hacking and would require annual funds to maintain.

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Now back onto the topic at hand, all bills should have to be written out fully. Not referred to the voting act paragraph 2 B. If they want to put that in there for online purposes, they need to put a link to the voting act. And if you’re changing a colon to a; rewrite it the whole thing and say updated HR bill 9747 as an example at the top. And put the old bill whatever bill is updated old bill archived.

They should give us the option. Yes, no, changes.
And we should be able to call which ever house of Representative we want to to suggest changes. Because if you’re a republican and have a democratic HR, they are not going to listen and vice versa. Or if you have Mike Johnson like me you want to call somebody else, Because he doesn’t care. I have wrote him and called over a problem in our state. And he has yet to look into it and try to help Clay Higgins on the other hand because it affects his territory. Also responded by email in four days. And I called and gave them websites and information. And he is going to talk to our state to help stop what’s happening.

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1. Use of Privacy-Focused Blockchain Protocols

  • Implement blockchain systems that use privacy-enhancing technologies, such as:
    • Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKP): These allow transactions to be verified without revealing details about the sender, receiver, or amount.
    • Ring Signatures: These anonymize the identity of the sender by blending their signature with others in the network.
    • Confidential Transactions: Encrypt transaction details while still allowing the system to validate their accuracy.

2. Separation of Identity from Transactions

  • Create a system where personal identities are not linked directly to transactions on the blockchain.
  • Use pseudonymous wallet addresses that only the individual and authorized government entities (with a warrant or legal process) can associate with a real identity.

3. Decentralized Identity Management

  • Employ decentralized identity (DID) systems that give individuals control over their personal information.
  • Citizens can share only the minimal information necessary for specific interactions, ensuring privacy while preventing unauthorized surveillance.

4. Government Oversight with Strict Boundaries

  • Define clear legal and technical boundaries for government access to blockchain data.
  • Require judicial oversight or legal warrants for accessing private transaction details.

5. Open-Source Code for Transparency

  • Use an open-source blockchain framework, allowing independent experts to audit the system for potential vulnerabilities or backdoors.
  • This ensures the government cannot misuse the system for mass surveillance.

6. Public Control Over Governance

  • Implement a decentralized governance model for the blockchain, involving public representatives and independent stakeholders to prevent centralized control by any single entity.
  • This ensures that decisions about privacy settings or data access are transparent and democratic.

Benefits of Blockchain with Privacy Protections

  1. Transparency for Public Accountability: Aggregate transaction data can be reviewed for monetary policy oversight without compromising individual privacy.
  2. Reduced Corruption and Fraud: Immutable records prevent unauthorized alterations, ensuring trust in the system.
  3. Enhanced Citizen Privacy: Strong encryption and pseudonymity prevent unauthorized access to personal financial information.

Risks and Mitigations

  • Risk: Potential for misuse by bad actors to conceal illegal activity.
    • Mitigation: Build tools for auditing suspicious patterns, while maintaining individual privacy.
  • Risk: Mismanagement or abuse of oversight mechanisms.
    • Mitigation: Establish independent oversight bodies and strict penalties for unauthorized surveillance.
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