Help us show Congress that we can do it ourselves!

1.) Elect citizen representatives.

2.) Help them draft a crowd-sourced bill.

3.) Watch them hand deliver the citizen led solution to Washington, D.C.

Directing Democracy is a documentary film project that will chronicle an experiment in open source governance. We want the online community to elect three citizen representatives: a centrist, a progressive, and a conservative, to become investigators and eventual editors of a crowd sourced bill aimed at revitalizing the middle class.

Your elected representatives will travel the country meeting with policy experts and concerned citizens to seek their input. During their two-week journey, you and others will have access to an online Wiki bill.  It is here that the various debates and drafts of the crowd-sourced legislation will take form.

 

The edited bill will be hand delivered to each House Congressional office in Washington, D.C. The entire process will be filmed for a feature length documentary to be released in 2012.

 

It is our hope that this shared experience will provide a shared solution. We believe the citizen representatives candid reporting from all across the nation, along with the collective intelligence of the online community, will create insightful legislation aimed at the root problems of our nation’s economy, rather than continually treating the symptoms.

 

 

The Impact:

Our country is faced with intense and conflicting challenges: rising energy costs and decreasing reserves; escalating costs of living and decreasing wages; a need to increase crop production balanced by a call for maintaining the natural environment. Further complicating each challenge is a Congress that is paralyzed by partisan gridlock. 

There is something happening in America today; an awakening of our country’s rebellious beginnings is evidenced by a growing number of citizens demanding leadership that does more for the nation rather than dramatizing the issues for political points.

Supporting Directing Democracy allows you to be part of the solution. By giving just one dollar to the project you will be able to nominate, vote, and participate in every aspect of this unique political experiment.

Let’s show Congress we can do it ourselves!

What We Need & What You Get:

We need $12,600 to cover production and pre-production costs. In order to hold expenses down, the citizen representatives and film crew will camp and “couch surf" as much as possible in order to avoid using motel accommodations.

 

The expenditures are as follows:

 

- Van Rental                                                                                      $1,500

- Gas (6,000 miles/15 mpg; $3.50 per gallon gas)                           $1,400

- Tolls                                                                                                   $150

- Campsite Rentals                                                                               $350

- Food ($20 per person per day x 20 days x 8 people)                      $3,200  

- Airfare (3 citizen representatives; roundtrip)                                  $2,600

- Film Costs (External Hard Drives, Rentals, Crew)                         $2,900

- Printing Bill & Delivery of Perks to Project Backers                         $500

 

                                                                                       Total:       $12,600

 

This is a grassroots movement with a grassroots budget.  All funds will be spent while we are on the road.  Obviously, transportation and fuel will be a major issue.  Unless we do it "Oregon Trail" style, we've got to use some petrol.  We will need to rent a van for the cross-country trip. We will allot a daily stipend for food.  Sorry, no craft services on this trip.  We will be staying at campgrounds along the way, which will cost money as well. 

 

In our mind, one of the best incentives for becoming a project backer is the frame ready title page of the submitted bill.

It’s a lasting reminder that you were part of a citizen led solution. That said, any amount you can pledge towards this unique film project would be deeply valued.

Frequently Asked Questions:

WHEN WILL MY CARD BE CHARGED?
Contributors are charged at the moment of contribution. Indie GoGo will give Directing Democracy the funds the third week of February.

IS MY PLEDGE AMOUNT PUBLICLY DISPLAYED? 

Yes, there are three visibility settings that contributors can select: 1) Visible (name+amount) 2) Name only 3) Anonymous (amount only)

CAN I GIFT A PROJECT PERK? 

Contributors can enter the appropriate mailing address information when they contribute. We provide that information for you (campaign owner) on your "fulfillment" tab through your dashboard. They can also have someone else's name appear by typing into the field that says "contribute on behalf of someone else ____"

 

Other Ways You Can Help:

If you feel that you can't make a donation to our cause, please help us get the word out:

www.twitter.com/ddemocracy

http://directingdemocracy.tumblr.com

www.facebook.com/directingdemocracy