Commonwealth Vision
Commonwealth Vision
We are at a civilizational juncture. Modern ideologies and institutions pulled us away from the natural and aligned, and toward the globalized and homogenous. The former, grounded in the created order, reflects Eden; the latter points toward Babel. The networks and technologies that shape the digital age will determine whether this accelerates or reverses.
We are at a civilizational juncture. Modern ideologies and institutions pulled us away from the natural and aligned, and toward the globalized and homogenous. The former, grounded in the created order, reflects Eden; the latter points toward Babel. The networks and technologies that shape the digital age will determine whether this accelerates or reverses.
To date, most platforms have pulled people away from real human communities, offering distant and impersonal feeds and interactions. Facebook’s trajectory epitomizes this: it started as a social network centered on real institutions, but its structural incentives rewarded “engagement” rather than meaningful interactions, and it evolved to a TikTok-style newsfeed optimized to achieve this. Even most commercial platforms focus above all on liquidity, and pull people into globalized marketplaces of near-anonymized counterparties. While this approach has allowed these platforms to build vast networks and capture much of the value of the digital economy, they are shallow and fail to address the real needs of our era.
To date, most platforms have pulled people away from real human communities, offering distant and impersonal feeds and interactions. Facebook’s trajectory epitomizes this: it started as a social network centered on real institutions, but its structural incentives rewarded “engagement” rather than meaningful interactions, and it evolved to a TikTok-style newsfeed optimized to achieve this. Even most commercial platforms focus above all on liquidity, and pull people into globalized marketplaces of near-anonymized counterparties. While this approach has allowed these platforms to build vast networks and capture much of the value of the digital economy, they are shallow and fail to address the real needs of our era.
Commonwealth facilitates connection and commerce within and among aligned communities. Its design supports distinct communities with varying values, but Commonwealth is not neutral: the medium itself is conducive to strengthening discrete local and aligned communities as opposed to the homogenizing tendency of many digital network designs.
Commonwealth facilitates connection and commerce within and among aligned communities. Its design supports distinct communities with varying values, but Commonwealth is not neutral: the medium itself is conducive to strengthening discrete local and aligned communities as opposed to the homogenizing tendency of many digital network designs.
Commonwealth’s architecture centers on this decentralized vision, and its design embodies important virtues of American culture and addresses key contemporary challenges. This paper lays out a few of the themes that define our approach, the core platform function, and then the vision for technical architecture, governance, and incentives.
Commonwealth’s architecture centers on this decentralized vision, and its design embodies important virtues of American culture and addresses key contemporary challenges. This paper lays out a few of the themes that define our approach, the core platform function, and then the vision for technical architecture, governance, and incentives.
Crisis of Trust
America is becoming a low-trust society. We are rapidly losing confidence in institutions, and our society is dividing into camps who share so few foundational beliefs that trust becomes impossible.
America is becoming a low-trust society. We are rapidly losing confidence in institutions, and our society is dividing into camps who share so few foundational beliefs that trust becomes impossible.
This is applicable in goods we deal with on a day-to-day basis, but it is even more apparent in the “elite” institutions that are, in a more essential sense, in the business of trust. Financial firms—with which we entrust money—are growing ever more distant and concentrated, and are often governed with values contrary to our own interests. Universities—which through their issuing of credentials are in some ways the most fundamental transactors in trust—have been captured by ideology to a degree that has deeply corrupted the standards that underlie their degrees.
This is applicable in goods we deal with on a day-to-day basis, but it is even more apparent in the “elite” institutions that are, in a more essential sense, in the business of trust. Financial firms—with which we entrust money—are growing ever more distant and concentrated, and are often governed with values contrary to our own interests. Universities—which through their issuing of credentials are in some ways the most fundamental transactors in trust—have been captured by ideology to a degree that has deeply corrupted the standards that underlie their degrees.
As these trends accelerate, people will widely seek trustworthy alternatives for any transaction requiring significant trust. Digital platforms focused on distant or anonymized interactions will have limited ability to address this; real communities built on shared values and high-trust relationships will become a natural locus for many interactions once mediated by national institutions.
As these trends accelerate, people will widely seek trustworthy alternatives for any transaction requiring significant trust. Digital platforms focused on distant or anonymized interactions will have limited ability to address this; real communities built on shared values and high-trust relationships will become a natural locus for many interactions once mediated by national institutions.
THE AMERICAN MODEL OF ORGANIZATION
Commercial Republic
America is a commercial republic. Our incumbent regime is managerial and globalist, but it succeeded here where other managerial, globalist models (e.g., Soviet-style communism) failed because it built on America’s commercial heritage rather than challenging it directly. A successful challenger will likewise reflect this commercial heritage—perhaps even making a stronger claim to America’s identity—while directly rejecting the central evils of the present regime.
America is a commercial republic. Our incumbent regime is managerial and globalist, but it succeeded here where other managerial, globalist models (e.g., Soviet-style communism) failed because it built on America’s commercial heritage rather than challenging it directly. A successful challenger will likewise reflect this commercial heritage—perhaps even making a stronger claim to America’s identity—while directly rejecting the central evils of the present regime.
Broad commercial ambition and particularized religious commitment have been defining traits of American culture since its founding. Our commercial spirit helped balance the drive for religious distinction, allowing a degree of national integration.
Broad commercial ambition and particularized religious commitment have been defining traits of American culture since its founding. Our commercial spirit helped balance the drive for religious distinction, allowing a degree of national integration.
It is thus natural that our Commonwealth network leverages commerce as the vehicle to connect different sub-networks and communities—doing so in a way designed to preserve and strengthen their distinctions, while facilitating commerce with relatively aligned communities.
It is thus natural that our Commonwealth network leverages commerce as the vehicle to connect different sub-networks and communities—doing so in a way designed to preserve and strengthen their distinctions, while facilitating commerce with relatively aligned communities.
Self-Governance
Greater connection and commercial autonomy will facilitate self-government by local and aligned communities. Such self-governance is a core element of the American political tradition, and Commonwealth’s model will both strengthen the ties that allow communities to develop self-governance, and provide the mechanism to apply it to the digital realm.
Greater connection and commercial autonomy will facilitate self-government by local and aligned communities. Such self-governance is a core element of the American political tradition, and Commonwealth’s model will both strengthen the ties that allow communities to develop self-governance, and provide the mechanism to apply it to the digital realm.
As digital transformation introduces new problems and needs, many questions remain unanswered about how to address them—through both formal governance and other means. Digital network monopolies have, and will continue to have, enormous power in establishing such governance (through direct platform policies, algorithmic standards, and other norm-setting activities). Legacy digital monopolies have done so in ways that are often arbitrary, opaque, ideological, and inhuman. Above all, their approach feels foreign—deeply contrary to the American tradition in both process and substance.
As digital transformation introduces new problems and needs, many questions remain unanswered about how to address them—through both formal governance and other means. Digital network monopolies have, and will continue to have, enormous power in establishing such governance (through direct platform policies, algorithmic standards, and other norm-setting activities). Legacy digital monopolies have done so in ways that are often arbitrary, opaque, ideological, and inhuman. Above all, their approach feels foreign—deeply contrary to the American tradition in both process and substance.
A network model that facilitates self-governance will allow local and aligned communities to address these questions in ways that reflect their own values. Such a model is also likely to drive greater continuity with the broader American political tradition: the fractal nature of such a network will inherently reflect that tradition, and the community values that prevail will tend to be closer to that tradition than the values of current digital platforms. This will mean that as the digital layer of life grows in relative importance, communities will maintain at least the option to maintain self-governance in that domain rather than falling further under globalized, homogenous digital rule.
A network model that facilitates self-governance will allow local and aligned communities to address these questions in ways that reflect their own values. Such a model is also likely to drive greater continuity with the broader American political tradition: the fractal nature of such a network will inherently reflect that tradition, and the community values that prevail will tend to be closer to that tradition than the values of current digital platforms. This will mean that as the digital layer of life grows in relative importance, communities will maintain at least the option to maintain self-governance in that domain rather than falling further under globalized, homogenous digital rule.
Fractal Organization
Natural affinity is good. Alignment—whether on family, culture, or values—can serve as a basis for trust. As broad societal unity and trust break down, smaller communities that retain alignment will be poised to serve as bastions of trust.
Natural affinity is good. Alignment—whether on family, culture, or values—can serve as a basis for trust. As broad societal unity and trust break down, smaller communities that retain alignment will be poised to serve as bastions of trust.
Communities that leverage this trust to replace unreliable outside services will be able to preserve their standard of living as broader society declines. Commonwealth’s core function—facilitating connection and commerce within and among such communities—is designed to enable this.
Communities that leverage this trust to replace unreliable outside services will be able to preserve their standard of living as broader society declines. Commonwealth’s core function—facilitating connection and commerce within and among such communities—is designed to enable this.
Communities that build on this trust so they can serve as trusted intermediaries to the broader world will do more than survive: they may be positioned to flourish. By leveraging an asset they maintained that grew scarcer in society more broadly, they may even be poised to capture a leading—or standard-setting—position in key domains of life. Our ultimate goal is that Commonwealth help drive a paradigm shift of this scale.
Communities that build on this trust so they can serve as trusted intermediaries to the broader world will do more than survive: they may be positioned to flourish. By leveraging an asset they maintained that grew scarcer in society more broadly, they may even be poised to capture a leading—or standard-setting—position in key domains of life. Our ultimate goal is that Commonwealth help drive a paradigm shift of this scale.
THE COMMONWEALTH PLATFORM
THE COMMONWEALTH
PLATFORM
Platform Function
Commonwealth’s core initial offering is simple: it is a network organized around membership in groups, and around the relationships among groups. It collects both group affiliation and commercial/professional profile information similar to LinkedIn, but focuses on services offered or sought rather than full resume information.
Commonwealth’s core initial offering is simple: it is a network organized around membership in groups, and around the relationships among groups. It collects both group affiliation and commercial/professional profile information similar to LinkedIn, but focuses on services offered or sought rather than full resume information.
Commonwealth is designed to help members connect—particularly for commercial interaction—with other members within and among their primary groups. Commercial posts (advertisements) either offering a product or service or a need for a product or service can be targeted based on practical criteria to increase the chance of a match, but will also default to a sort of fractal tribal distribution, where the easiest and least expensive advertising is within core communities and cost increases as distance from those communities grows. This will orient commerce inward, where trust is easiest to ascertain (and compounds most easily), while allowing more distant connections when necessary.
Commonwealth is designed to help members connect—particularly for commercial interaction—with other members within and among their primary groups. Commercial posts (advertisements) either offering a product or service or a need for a product or service can be targeted based on practical criteria to increase the chance of a match, but will also default to a sort of fractal tribal distribution, where the easiest and least expensive advertising is within core communities and cost increases as distance from those communities grows. This will orient commerce inward, where trust is easiest to ascertain (and compounds most easily), while allowing more distant connections when necessary.
To achieve this fractal model, Commonwealth will identify various lines of proximity connecting groups (institutional, cultural/values, overlapping membership, geographic). A member seeking scale to advertise an opportunity will be able to push to growing “concentric circles” radiating out from his core group, reflecting the most valued forms of proximity given the nature of the opportunity
To achieve this fractal model, Commonwealth will identify various lines of proximity connecting groups (institutional, cultural/values, overlapping membership, geographic). A member seeking scale to advertise an opportunity will be able to push to growing “concentric circles” radiating out from his core group, reflecting the most valued forms of proximity given the nature of the opportunity
Commonwealth will also allow ways for groups to engage in broader arrays of activity by integrating with or linking to outside communication or collaboration apps and platforms. Such group-centered online activity will complement the offline activity that already defines many of these communities, and will allow Commonwealth to serve as the central online organizing tool for a range of groups with differing needs, even as its core platform functionality remains focused.
Commonwealth will also allow ways for groups to engage in broader arrays of activity by integrating with or linking to outside communication or collaboration apps and platforms. Such group-centered online activity will complement the offline activity that already defines many of these communities, and will allow Commonwealth to serve as the central online organizing tool for a range of groups with differing needs, even as its core platform functionality remains focused.
Finally, Commonwealth could allow groups to adopt and control important and values-laden technologies like AI models. A Commonwealth group could tune its own AI model to reflect group values—both in information generation and search functionality that helps users navigate the broader internet—and thus preserve a local/particular approach to a technology that could otherwise be a powerful homogenizing force. The basic online organization of communities that Commonwealth enables could thus be an essential means to developing group-level digital sovereignty.
Finally, Commonwealth could allow groups to adopt and control important and values-laden technologies like AI models. A Commonwealth group could tune its own AI model to reflect group values—both in information generation and search functionality that helps users navigate the broader internet—and thus preserve a local/particular approach to a technology that could otherwise be a powerful homogenizing force. The basic online organization of communities that Commonwealth enables could thus be an essential means to developing group-level digital sovereignty.
Technology and Governance
Conceptually, we envision a structure where groups are owned and governed by members. We intend to move in this direction, both in terms of design/governance and technical architecture.
Conceptually, we envision a structure where groups are owned and governed by members. We intend to move in this direction, both in terms of design/governance and technical architecture.
Our initial focus is our distinct network design and the type of connection and organization that enables; it is not primarily a particular type of technology or app. Thus we are using established protocols and technologies (email and web app), and will over time usher this network onto new technologies and protocols that enable stronger decentralized governance (e.g., a federated network model, open-source group management software, blockchain) as we become convinced they are valuable to the network and compatible with our vision.
Our initial focus is our distinct network design and the type of connection and organization that enables; it is not primarily a particular type of technology or app. Thus we are using established protocols and technologies (email and web app), and will over time usher this network onto new technologies and protocols that enable stronger decentralized governance (e.g., a federated network model, open-source group management software, blockchain) as we become convinced they are valuable to the network and compatible with our vision.
We likewise intend to integrate with technologies and protocols that are complementary to our vision, such as Bitcoin. Doing so can help Commonwealth users adopt these technologies, strengthening individual and group autonomy. More importantly, Commonwealth may be able to provide meaningful new uses for these technologies by addressing a critical gap: technologies that have high potential value for digital sovereignty often struggle to achieve the network effects that allow for regular usage, because even growing global networks do not map to day-to-day interactions. Commonwealth, in contrast, is organized around smaller and tighter networks that could provide sufficient liquidity for new protocols far more easily—and it is building the mechanisms to facilitate collective adoption.
We likewise intend to integrate with technologies and protocols that are complementary to our vision, such as Bitcoin. Doing so can help Commonwealth users adopt these technologies, strengthening individual and group autonomy. More importantly, Commonwealth may be able to provide meaningful new uses for these technologies by addressing a critical gap: technologies that have high potential value for digital sovereignty often struggle to achieve the network effects that allow for regular usage, because even growing global networks do not map to day-to-day interactions. Commonwealth, in contrast, is organized around smaller and tighter networks that could provide sufficient liquidity for new protocols far more easily—and it is building the mechanisms to facilitate collective adoption.
Network Incentives
In the digital economy, attention is scarce and advertisers pay digital platforms vast amounts of money to capture user attention. Commonwealth will share this revenue with network users, creating unique incentives for network quality and growth, by returning money to:
In the digital economy, attention is scarce and advertisers pay digital platforms vast amounts of money to capture user attention. Commonwealth will share this revenue with network users, creating unique incentives for network quality and growth, by returning money to:
Active users
Group leaders (network builders and maintainers)
Users who drive early platform growth
Active users
Group leaders (network builders and maintainers)
Users who drive early platform growth
As noted, the primary source of revenue will be from advertising—a signaling cost that bears little relationship (especially in online advertising) to the cost of delivering the advertisement.
As noted, the primary source of revenue will be from advertising—a signaling cost that bears little relationship (especially in online advertising) to the cost of delivering the advertisement.
This signaling spend will only grow as the volume of digital information proliferates, and people look to this sort of skin in the game as a signal of where to direct their scarce attention. Today, centralized platforms typically collect all or nearly all of this, and because of the gap between real delivery cost and signaling value, those that achieve network effects can collect large windfalls.
This signaling spend will only grow as the volume of digital information proliferates, and people look to this sort of skin in the game as a signal of where to direct their scarce attention. Today, centralized platforms typically collect all or nearly all of this, and because of the gap between real delivery cost and signaling value, those that achieve network effects can collect large windfalls.
Commonwealth will return much of this to network members, with a significant share of net advertisement revenue split among target groups and a global growth pool. Group-level rewards will in turn be split among all active members, while disproportionately going to group leaders. For more passive members, these can be thought of as a rebate: a return of a share of what is bid to gain their scarce attention. For active members—group promoters and leaders—these are compensation for their work building and maintaining a valuable digital network.
Commonwealth will return much of this to network members, with a significant share of net advertisement revenue split among target groups and a global growth pool. Group-level rewards will in turn be split among all active members, while disproportionately going to group leaders. For more passive members, these can be thought of as a rebate: a return of a share of what is bid to gain their scarce attention. For active members—group promoters and leaders—these are compensation for their work building and maintaining a valuable digital network.
Group leaders will have additional non-financial upside: by digitally organizing communities that have existing real-world status, leaders can add new value to these communities and become valued brokers and connectors within them. This can certainly be an avenue to status for younger members (particularly valuable in communities where legacy institutional paths are more limited), and may bring offline professional rewards.
Group leaders will have additional non-financial upside: by digitally organizing communities that have existing real-world status, leaders can add new value to these communities and become valued brokers and connectors within them. This can certainly be an avenue to status for younger members (particularly valuable in communities where legacy institutional paths are more limited), and may bring offline professional rewards.
Finally, the early stages require growth not just of specific groups, but of the network as a whole. A global growth pool will go to all early adopters of Commonwealth, and especially early leaders of active groups, and early promoters of platform growth beyond their groups.
Finally, the early stages require growth not just of specific groups, but of the network as a whole. A global growth pool will go to all early adopters of Commonwealth, and especially early leaders of active groups, and early promoters of platform growth beyond their groups.
The specifics of these incentives will be worked out over time, and gradually locked in as growth needs and usage dynamics become clear. Some, such as the distribution of group-level rewards within a group, may become a matter of group governance, with individual groups empowered to choose distribution models that fit their needs and culture. The global growth pool may be shifted to incentivize other distributed actions that build network value beyond growth. But overall the defining principle of the Commonwealth economy will remain group-centered ownership of the economic rents of the digital economy.
The specifics of these incentives will be worked out over time, and gradually locked in as growth needs and usage dynamics become clear. Some, such as the distribution of group-level rewards within a group, may become a matter of group governance, with individual groups empowered to choose distribution models that fit their needs and culture. The global growth pool may be shifted to incentivize other distributed actions that build network value beyond growth. But overall the defining principle of the Commonwealth economy will remain group-centered ownership of the economic rents of the digital economy.
CONCLUSION
The architecture of dominant digital networks and platforms will shape all layers of life—online and offline—in the digital age. Most incumbent platforms have pulled people away from local and aligned communities. Their design does little build trust or enable high-trust interactions. They are governed by distant and often misaligned parties.
The architecture of dominant digital networks and platforms will shape all layers of life—online and offline—in the digital age. Most incumbent platforms have pulled people away from local and aligned communities. Their design does little build trust or enable high-trust interactions. They are governed by distant and often misaligned parties.
Commonwealth is designed to drive an alternative model of organization—one that maps to real human communities, and uses digital tools to better connect these. Such a network can build on the foundations of trust in these communities to help fill the void as broader societal and institutional trust decline. It can enable high-trust commerce and create economic opportunity for members. It can give communities the power to govern the digital networks on which they depend, and give community members the ability to capture a share of the value they create.
Commonwealth is designed to drive an alternative model of organization—one that maps to real human communities, and uses digital tools to better connect these. Such a network can build on the foundations of trust in these communities to help fill the void as broader societal and institutional trust decline. It can enable high-trust commerce and create economic opportunity for members. It can give communities the power to govern the digital networks on which they depend, and give community members the ability to capture a share of the value they create.
Join Commonwealth to help shape the digital age.
Join Commonwealth to help shape the digital age.
