1136 Can Technology Fix Democracy? | Travis Misurell on Citizen Power and the Future of Elections

Subscribe for more: https://thinkfuture.comConnect with Travis: https://hub.futureis.org---What if the biggest problem in politics isn’t left vs. right—but the middlemen in between?In this episode of thinkfuture, host Chris Kalaboukis speaks with Travis Misurell, founder of the FINC Coalition, about an ambitious effort to upgrade democracy through a citizen-owned civic internet.Travis argues that American democracy has become increasingly dominated by gatekeepers—big money, political parties, media organizations, and institutional interests that shape which candidates voters see and which ideas gain traction.His solution?A platform designed to bypass the middlemen.The Fink Coalition aims to create a citizen-owned political infrastructure that helps voters make more informed decisions through candidate report cards, conflict-of-interest tracking, promise accountability, and journalist transparency.We explore:- Why Travis believes democracy is failing ordinary citizens- The impact of the Citizens United ruling on modern elections- How campaign spending exploded from millions to billions- Why voters often face a “false choice” between establishment candidatesVThe vision for a citizen-owned civic internet- Candidate report cards and promise tracking- Journalist accountability and credibility scoring- Why FINC is movement-first and technology-second- A future where citizens—not corporations—own the platformLooking ahead to 2036, Travis envisions FINC becoming the primary hub for American political engagement, with ownership distributed through a unique one-person, one-share cooperative model.Whether you agree with the vision or not, this conversation raises important questions about trust, transparency, and the future of democratic participation.