The Birth of Political Movements in Web3 ⚖️
Remedying the imbalances of power in a decentralized world.
“No one man should have all that power” - Kanye West
A few days ago, we saw firsthand the implications of living in a centralized society. A decision made by 9 individuals at the highest level of law practically erased decades of progress, in favor of less individual control for women. While this is just one instance, it speaks to a larger conversation around power that can’t be ignored. When power is inappropriately imbalanced, the impact can be detrimental — reflecting a small minority’s viewpoint or decision, instead of those of the majority. Who does power really belong to? Does society really need decision makers on behalf of a population or should there be mechanisms to enable all people to have a direct say in what decisions are made? What might national decision making look like 20 years from now when Web3 principles are embedded into society and not seen as some alternate reality?
Let’s start with the facts.
The Supreme Court is comprised of 9 individuals whose duty is to make decisions that impact the lives of millions of Americans. In other words, it is EXTREMELY centralized. According to my fave, AOC, “7 of the 9 justices were appointed by a party that has not won a popular vote in 30 years.”
No matter which political party you belong to, you can’t ignore the clear power imbalance and misrepresentation of the desires of the majority of the American people. Creating a decentralized world means that there is transparency and representation in decision making processes. It means that there’s no longer a dissonance between what the majority wants and the decisions that those in power are making.
We’re sitting at the crux of two inflection points right now: 1) the acceptance and eventual adoption of Web3, and 2) one of the most significant political rulings in decades. I imagine that we’ll begin to see people who sit at the intersection of Web3 and political work begin driving change on the blockchain.
ChoiceDAO is an example of a mission driven DAO, birthed from the Supreme Court ruling.
As more people from the political and social impact sectors get involved in Web3, I think we’ll start seeing more DAOs formed to leverage the power of community to fund their causes. I’m personally excited to see this happen because, if done well, it can completely change how decisions are made and how social action comes to life.
I wouldn’t be surprised if, in 20 years, we did a complete overhaul of our current political system and eradicated the electoral college, Supreme Court, and everything else that perpetuates injustices. But let me not get too radical right now… 🥲
Thanks for indulging me this week!
Kendall
DISCLAIMER: I don’t believe politics can always be separated from “professional” work and interests. This article reflects my personal views, which I feel strongly about because I am a woman and I am human. If you disagree with anything shared, that is okay… kind of.
Great article Kendall! While I earned a degree in Political Science a decade ago, I have always believed that it's impossible to consistently separate politics from "professional" work and interests. The fact of the matter, our country leaders have not adapted nor evolved with today's concerns. I would like to see more Millennials in positions of power.