Fixing Democracy: Help Make it the Next X Prize

When you hear "X Prize" you probably think "space." That's because several of the popular innovation competitions run by the X Prize Foundation have tackled the challenges of private, manned space travel.

Now, the X Prize could spur massive innovation around a challenge at least as complex as space travel -- but firmly rooted on earth: fixing democracy. That is, if enough concerned citizens join the movement to convince the X Prize committee of its importance.

Audacious but Achievable

The campaign is called Will of The People: Evolving Democracy, and its leader is legendary Democratic campaign strategist Joe Trippi.

"There are a lot of good problems to try and solve," Trippi told Countable in an exclusive interview. "But given the whole breadth of problems that are facing democracy and elections today, this is incredibly important."

As the leader of this X Prize campaign -- known as its "Visioneer," Trippi's job is to build momentum, raise monetary support and make the case for Will of The People at an annual summit in October. There, the idea of fixing democracy will be one of just four proposed subjects for the coming X Prize competition. And Trippi is convinced it's the most important one.

"You have voter ID, secure voting systems, fake news, gerrymandering, the money in politics," Trippi said, pointing out the host of challenges Americans face today.

Trippi's goal is not only to make the best case he can for Will of The People, but to use the very democratic principles the campaign seeks to strengthen in order build the movement itself. That means Trippi has a question for you: What exactly needs to be fixed in our system? What are you most concerned about? And what would be the initial steps toward evolving democracy?

"I want to democratize making the case. I don't want it to just be me doing it, I want people to do it. To get those voices and people's own words about why this is so important to them. What are the things that they worry the most with democracy, that they'd like to see X-prize target as the next moonshot."

Trippi is also applying democratic ideas to the challenge of raising seed money for the cause. Instead of seeking out big donors or businesses with deep pockets to sponsor Will of The People, he's set up a crowdfunding campaign so that anyone concerned with the problems of modern democracy can throw their weight behind making them the next big challenge of the X Prize.

Get involved! The power of democracy -- and its challenges -- unite everyone in the Countable community. Check out Will of The People: Evolving Democracy, and leave a comment below to describe your own views.