We’ve Laid Down a Solid Foundation for the Future: Help Us Build On It!

Tell us if you find a democracy reform effort that does what we do:

1. Lays out a testable theory of democracy,

2. Systematizes that theory,

3. Translates that system into a concrete plan for implementation in the US at the federal level,

4. Develops the software to execute that plan,

and is ready to spearhead a fun, dynamic, utterly persuasive promotional campaign to make it all happen.

All it takes is The Courage to be Sovereign.

We are participating in the reproduction of a system that leaves us powerless—even though none of us, acting alone, created it and none of us, acting alone, can escape it.

This paper is a call to hope. It challenges the reader to question the cynicism they have learned through living their entire lives in the legacy system. It attempts to offer a diagnosis of the biggest problem we now face—the only real problem—which is believing in the possibility of getting everything we’ve always wanted. After having been promised that shiny new bike year after year after year, and never getting anything but socks and underwear, this time—it is really going to happen.

The Courage to Be Sovereign: Abuse, Love, and the Emotional Transition from Political Helplessness to Voter Sovereignty

It lays out the only significant obstacle on the path forward towards the democracy that you want, and that you have been struggling to achieve. A democratic self-government that:

• De-centralizes authority and increases local democracy,

• Accurately reflects voter choice of representation,

• Makes corruption unprofitable,

• Is transparent and accountable,

• Encourages fluid, responsible leadership,

• Enhances congressional capacity and professionalism,

• Implements mechanisms of direct democracy,

• Constrains executive power,

• Is deliberative and participatory,

• Eliminates the two-party system,

• Gets money out of politics,

• Guards against authoritarianism,

• Incorporates sortition and new models of voting,

• Finds common cause among opposing forces,

• Replaces disinformation and misinformation with usable facts,

• Promotes an informed and engaged constituency.

I reckon that, with luck, I have a good twenty years left on this planet. I plan on seeing all of these happen while I’m alive. Probably, much much sooner…

It’s up to you, my friends!

Dahlia Hart, Founder and Director of the
Democracy, Straight-Up! Project

Hi! I’m Dahlia Hart, founder and director he Democracy Straight-Up Project. I’ve spent decades developing the principles and structure of this system. I’ve carried this vision through years of research, writing, and re-organizing to make things clear enough in my own mind that I could convince you: this is possible. Very possible! We don’t need to amend the Constitution. We don’t need to wait for approval. We can build this system ourselves, right now. And there are enough of us—enough people with the time, the energy, and the will—to do it.

My work—and the work of everyone joining this project—is about nothing less than changing the human condition for generations to come.

Current Funding Round—Full-time Founder Execution

We are asking for $9,175 through January, 2027.

Look at the six month plan here.

We are one month into the plan. Look at the impressive amount Dahlia was able to achieve in one month.

Imagine what 5 more months of execution would produce!

Funding Proposal—Full-time Founder Execution

July Progress Report—Full-time Founder Execution

Assuming Round 1 is successful, we will have:

• A Podcast on the Spotify Platform

• Increased YouTube Video Content

• A fully-articulated website

• Training Materials and a Ten-week Course in Straight-Up Democracy

• Contributors working on the Straight-Up Transition Wiki

• A greatly expanded network

• A core group of volunteers

• A funder pipeline

• An organizational Infrastructure

• A Shopify presence for merchandising

The Claim Your Seat Voting portal fully-deployed with Circles already forming in districts across the country.

Ready for Round 2?

Beginning in January, 2027, a bootstrap startup nonprofit: we’ll be looking for about $50,000 for the first year.