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Election season can be so overwhelming that some experts consider election anxiety a public health concern. UC Berkeley’s researchers say 7 out of 10 adults experience anxiety about the future because of an election. Policy concerns are a major cause for election anxiety, all of which can feel out of the average voter’s control. According to the Pew Research Center, U.S. residents are most concerned about the economy, immigration, healthcare, and foreign policy. Whether these issues feel personal or people feel disconnected from them, either way they must rely on candidates to represent their opinions. Representatives should be trusted to vote in alignment with the majority of their constituents' priorities, as a function of the democracy with which this nation was founded. But what happens when a candidate has views that don’t align with your policy preferences? Or no candidate feels like a good fit to represent you, and you're not in a fandom for either party’s candidate? Since there is a connection between being in control and alleviating anxiety, feeling heard by representatives could help residents cope with election season. That’s one of the reasons Pinion thinks the ability to directly tell legislators about policy priorities is so vital in today’s political climate. Pinion is creating a way to help better inform policy by making Americans feel more connected to the process. Join us in directly impacting how governance gets accomplished with Pinion. Get Engaged!

“How can you get involved in a way that positively impacts your wallet?” If you’re just making ends meet, living paycheck to paycheck, it's important to remember that it didn't used to be that way. While the U.S. has always had a capitalist economic system, wages were once more closely equated to the cost of living. Officials had the gaps among the cost of living, wages, and inflation on their radar. Now, those gaps are further than they've ever been. As former Fed chair Ben Bernanke put it, inflation boils down to when the aggregate quantity of goods demanded at a particular price is higher than the available quantity of goods at that price level. For example, many Americans want a certain amount of bread at a certain price, and there’s only so much bread in the country available at that price, so eventually their "want" for bread at that price exceeds what’s available, and the price goes up. If you’ve ever been unemployed, you’ve wondered how the unemployment formula, which doesn’t account for inflation, will meet your basic needs, while searching for the job that will provide an income that sustains you. During periods of inflation, even employed people often cannot meet their basic needs. Not increasing wages in conjunction with inflation can lead to American working class debt, disenfranchisement, and homelessness. Labor regulations, minimum wage, the unemployment rate, and your national, state, and local budgets are all impacted by inflation. So how can you get involved in a way that positively impacts your wallet? Pinion wants to improve the lives of working class people through civic engagement that leads to better policy for everyone. Technology that makes your voice heard with the swipe of a touch screen or the click of a mouse. And with enough of our voices heard — our representatives will have to translate their listening into action. Every time you vote on Pinion for a spending bill, minimum wage, or anything that affects the cost of living, you're sending a reminder to your representatives: I’m still here, and this gap keeps widening for me and my family. If representatives don’t take your cost of living into account, you may not take them into account when you go to the voting booth. During times of inflation it's important to... Get Engaged!

How can we encourage civic education? Back-to-school season has Pinion inspired to discuss civic education in the U.S., which is at best sporadic and at worst skipped over. We're wondering how we can improve it and how we can get young people engaged. Will Gen Z still show up at the polls, even if they never had a civics class? It turns out civic education is bigger than just learning about voting. While it helps people understand their rights as members of the greater community and the basics of democracy, including their local and national government structures, it also promotes community relationships, improves outcomes for the underprivileged, and leads to better governance and health outcomes. Research has shown that youth engagement in student government and mock elections can lead to improved academic performance and social-emotional well-being. Some studies even find students who are resourceful in extracurricular activities are more likely to be civically engaged later in life, including participating in public discourse and decision-making while contributing to the betterment of society. Education opportunities cost money and many school districts are already struggling to make ends meet. So after they’ve asked teachers to volunteer as advisors to extracurriculars and exhausted other resources, they will need new resources and new ways to inspire their students to civic engagement. Pinion is creating opportunities to expand civic discourse. We’re building voting records that are easily viewable, to increase transparency in a complicated political landscape. The Pinion platform takes young voters into the heart of civic performance, the crafting and passing of legislation, and provides them a way to vote on the same bills their elected officials are voting on. In this way, they can take part in policy shaping by easily sharing opinions on important legislation. Creating better access to civic engagement will open doors for students and adults alike. Both can engage in commentary about what matters most to them, highlighting the perspectives and concerns of all generations. This information will inform a more nuanced policy discussion, addressing concerns from more angles and better serving the population throughout their lifespans. Get Engaged!

Vice President Kamala Harris raised $200 million in the week following President Joe Biden announcing he was leaving the presidential race. And according to the Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v FEC , that’s 200 million “free speech signals” in support of her candidacy. Former President Donald Trump raised an average of $27.5 million a week during this election cycle, which is 27.5 million signals of support for him (on the heels of the attempt on his life). The outpouring of support for both presidential hopefuls has been incredible as people and groups make their desire for representation known by voting with their wallets. Some of that money comes from PACs, other donations come from special interest groups, and others from very rich individuals. But for those that can’t donate or feel like their donation doesn’t matter, those numbers can feel overwhelming – and disenfranchising. So how does an individual impact politics without a lot of money to donate? How does someone with strong opinions about this election heartily stand behind their intended leader? Many people have taken to social media, posting their support with hashtags and joining groups that have popped up over night. However, it’s hard to know if candidates actually see this support. Soon, you and your fellow constituents will have a new way to help you usefully engage with impact. Pinion will enable researching a candidate’s voting records to see how well they align with your preferences. Imagine being able to go to the polls, armed with analytics, based on real data, that helps you vote for the candidate that has been voting with you, regardless of their party, gender, race, or other consideration. Pinion was built to amplify individuals’ voices about all things policy and legislation. Whether it’s supporting a lawmaker or condemning a proposed law, Pinion translates public opinion into public policy. Our platform offers a two-way transparency between legislators and constituents, telling average Americans how representatives vote while clearly indicating what policy citizens want to see from their elected officials. We look forward to sharing these innovations with you and hearing your feedback. Get Engaged!

This week was the first Presidential Debate of the 2024 election. Much like 2016’s and 2020’s debates, a lot of opinions came out of it but for us, it didn’t feel like enough time was dedicated to seriously considering important governing concepts, especially legislation. At Pinion we know that presidents don’t make legislation, but they do have a lot of influence on it. We also know that the U.S. was built as a democratic republic, with democracy at the forefront of a government “by the people, for the people.” And Thursday didn’t center on the people so much as it centered on… golf and insults. Since golf isn’t everyone's thing and insults don’t solve the important, thorny problems our country is facing, we think its more important than ever to harness a system where everyone can have a voice. If taxes, immigration, abortion or the economy are important to you, it can feel pretty daunting to watch powerful people talk about topics you don’t feel you have influence over. This is why we want to bring an easy-to-use system to the people. A lot of Pinion’s staff have deep policy backgrounds and we still feel overwhelmed sometimes. To that end, we threw a debate party so people could vote along on the issues that matter to them on the Pinion platform and we could all watch it together. We believe the antidote to frustration, name-calling, and election anxiety is community and action. We use the platform to vote, to let legislators know what matters to us, and to know what matters to them through their voting records. And we urge you to do the same. By being engaged, you make our democracy more representative, more transparent, and better overall. Get Engaged!

Money may not be the root of all evil, but it sure is the source of a lot of political frustration for the general public. Like most of us, governments have to budget so they have money for the things that matter most. And much like individual people, they have to decide which bills get paid first. When the new fiscal year approaches for states, they begin to review their money diaries. And that means spending money on social programs, education, and infrastructure. While some government sectors have inflexible amounts attached to them (like California’s required education spending), others have more wiggle room. Each government can decide to put its pocket change towards the things that matter most to it, like Florida’s senior public healthcare expenditures. The frustrating part about government spending is it often reflects politicians’ priorities more than those of their constituents. The federal government has lived through several moments where its choices have displeased the public, whether that’s letting national parks get littered and damaged following a budget-based shutdown or passing foreign aid packages voters don’t feel represent their desired outcomes. While you can’t please all the people all of the time, campaign spending should reflect pleasing most of the people most of the time. Despite endless appeals waiting in your inbox to “Donate Now,” only a handful of billionaires fund the majority of large donations, according to Reuters. In an attempt to follow the money, efforts have emerged to better represent US residents’ wants, like ranked-choice voting, organizations that trace election funding, and direct vote propositions. However, those are hard to understand and only make opinion sharing available during elections. At Pinion, we’ve created a platform designed to let you and your fellow residents tell legislators your priorities, consistently, on the significant legislation that will spend your tax dollars. Our Pinion technology empowers you to express your legislative priorities directly to legislators. Then, if you choose, you can share your vote across your social media accounts. We’re transforming civic engagement to make it easy and empowering for everyone to… Get Engaged!

What happens when a public forum gets banned or changed in some way? Social media has become the venue where we share all our thoughts: from what we ate today, words of encouragement for loved ones, funny cat videos for your best friend, or opinions on news, the arts, and yes…politics. Before 2016, calling, writing and watching politicians’ debates had its own set of spaces and mediums, but now a meme is just as powerful as a press release. And while each platform has its own personality and audience, the social media ecosystem has become a forum for sharing important things. It’s far easier to share a comment from a lawmaker or quote their post than it is to email them in support – or opposition of – legislation that gets you fired up. Posting commentary on any social media platform can spark debate, opening the door for people to comment, share, or create new content from the original discussion. These spaces have become quasi-town squares, loose forums for free expression, discussion, and some occasionally ugly behavior. So what happens when one of those forums gets banned or changed in some way? When Twitter shifted to X, many users left the platform and for those who stayed, it became an entirely different space. Similar apps have popped up to try to replace the global town square, but nothing has really fit the bill. TikTok, known for fun videos and commentary couched in catchy choreography, is frequently under threat of ban. People ask themselves how they will continue to easily share their opinions and read simple explainers of challenging topics like social media censorship laws. At Pinion, we're working on the especially important arena of civic engagement and healthy democracy. Pinion is a platform where the ways we communicate our priorities to legislators become shorter and simpler, making the act of informing lawmakers of our priorities easier while letting our community voice the change we want to see. Pinion is creating a place to share legislation and influence it. Each person will be able to read straightforward summaries of legislation they find vital, then directly inform the powers that be whether or not the bill fits…in seconds. Unlike all the other platforms, Pinion was designed from the ground up to enable a new paradigm in civic engagement, because that freedom is worthy of its own special place. Without such freedom and dedicated space to directly express our legislative opinions to our representative, we can't seriously expect to participate in the modern democratic process. How does our democracy express a clear representation of its people? Most Americans use social media daily. Isn’t it time to put our commentary in front of eyes that can forge the changes we want and support the same priorities we do? PINION…Get Engaged! Written by: Scott Pierce, Founder of Pinion

It’s no secret that our modern politics are broken. Today’s political-media circus has become a 24/7/365 money-making machine. Social media platforms promote negative and polarizing content because it’s more likely to go viral — and virality sells. According to Pew Research Center , 8 out of 10 Americans feel negatively about US politics. Trust in our democracy is at an all-time low. Voters have lost hope that their vote has any impact, and they’re not wrong. This brief video from Represent.us summarizes a 2014 Princeton Study that investigated the relationship between public opinion and legislative outcomes in Congress. The bottom line: “The preferences of the average American appear to have only a miniscule, near zero, statistically insignificant impact upon public policy.” Not good! What’s causing the disconnect? Beyond the media circus keeping us distracted, the simple reason is poor transparency, especially regarding how your representatives vote on topics you really care about. Want to find the answers? Here’s Google and good luck with that! Today’s civic engagement options are indirect — they feel ineffective and just too hard. Call my Senator? Really? Who has time for that? How will Pinion transform civic engagement? Pinion is designed to let you engage easily , so you can get on with life. We focus on the only thing that really matters, legislation. It’s legislation that creates our future — that sets public policy, updates laws, allocates funding, and directs resources. Legislation impacts your rights, your community, and your future. Pinion purposefully avoids the drama and spin of politics. Instead, we directly connect you to pending legislation your local, state, and national legislatures are considering.Pinion’s idea is simple: enable you to easily find and vote on the same legislative proposals that your representatives are considering, letting them know where you stand before they vote. Pinion tracks the results to show exactly how well your representatives are voting with you, or not. It also tracks the candidates running to replace the incumbents so you can easily see who best aligns with your policy goals. Pinion is designed to help governments improve their civic engagement game. Our vision is higher satisfaction of constituents and communities with their representation at all levels. Yes, even Congress! Pinion enables elected leaders to share their planned votes and reasoning with their constituents, then receive useful feedback and consider public opinion before casting their official votes. Everyone deserves democracy that works. Pinion is creating a civic engagement platform to engage constituents and generate feedback in real time, connecting leaders to how their community feels and demographic insights to align diverse communities and build shared consensus. The primary function of a healthy democracy is to translate public opinion into public policy. Pinion is designed for the mission of transforming civic engagement — making it easy, engaging, and enlightening. With your support, a new paradigm of civic engagement can take hold for both citizens and their representatives. PINION…Get Engaged!

“I can’t believe that doesn’t already exist.” This is the response we usually hear when we introduce people to Pinion. In an era where we can effortlessly connect with individuals across the globe and access information beyond our grandparents’ imagination, there’s still a gap in empowering citizens to actively engage with their government. Let’s imagine the following: Easily voting on the same issues as your representatives and tracking progress. Transparent comparison of voting records in a few clicks, so you can vote for candidates that vote with you. Seamlessly sharing your vote on important topics you care about to inspire others. Customer satisfaction of citizens with their government and representation improved. Welcome to Pinion! It’s a simple concept really. We believe you should be able to easily find and vote on the issues you care about. As a result, your elected officials should be able to easily see how the people they represent voted. By displaying the voting results of constituents, Pinion equips elected officials with analytical insights to better respond to concerns and foster consensus. It also makes it challenging for them to disregard public opinion when transparency is amplified. Share your “Pinion” (your vote) on social media to inspire others and see their votes. Or opt for complete privacy, knowing your vote is still counted and your voice heard. Our customers (governments at all levels) now have an accessible, engaging, and user-friendly way to connect with you, enhancing satisfaction for all. Pinion will transform civic engagement — making it easier, faster, more interesting, and universal. Our value proposition lives in the improved communication between constituents and their local, state, and national legislatures. To realize this vision, we’re crafting a new platform designed for civic engagement. Your support and feedback are instrumental in achieving this vision. Sign up to join our community , participate in our private beta, and shape the future of a civically engaged democracy. Get Engaged!