In “Sowing Division”, we focused on the digital divide caused by modern technology. In this post, we’ll shift our attention to what can be done. It begins with abandoning today’s ad-driven platforms. There’s a reason the companies behind modern tech are extraordinarily wealthy: our collective information is worth a fortune. Walking away from these platforms would be the digital equivalent of a labor strike — and it's exactly what’s needed to confront the tech arm of the wealthy elite.
We need open-source platforms built for community, collaboration, and the free exchange of ideas. These don’t need to be complex at the outset, they can grow and evolve over time. But one thing is non-negotiable: we must remove the profit motive. No ads. No manipulative algorithms. Yes, there will be costs — but through crowdsourcing, we’ll work to identify the lowest possible prices for the essential services required.
If our movement gains the momentum I believe it can, we’ll reach a tipping point — one where we can bring significant numbers of people off the existing platforms and onto publicly derived alternatives. When the clicks stop and the audience vanishes, the ad revenue dries up. In doing so, we target both the disinformation machine and the profit engine behind it. A mass exodus is our collective power, and open-source platforms are the vessel.
But who will build this? Who will maintain it, host it, secure the servers? This is where crowdsourcing comes in. Not just for funds, but for time, talent, and shared purpose. And to be completely transparent: this means minimizing labor costs through volunteer effort and keeping material costs as low as possible. This is a civic service, a response to a national threat that our government has failed to address. If we throw money at the problem, we enter a monetary arms race with a class we cannot outspend. That’s a losing battle. Our strength lies in doing things differently, by tapping into our numbers, our diversity of skills, and our shared commitment.
By building these open-source alternatives, we create the foundation for what comes next: a space where ideas can flourish, policies can be crafted, and legislation can be shaped — ready for the 120th Congress and beyond.