From Random Selection to Intentional Connection

Professionally, I focus on creating social benefit startups. In my Saturday morning emails I share what I’m learning and thinking. Topics range from better living and parenting to business and philosophy.

1. More Sortition. We already use lotteries in democracy. Every jury pool is built on sortition. What if we used it for more than trials? I’ll admit, the idea of picking a chief executive by lottery makes me shudder. In the legislative branch, though, it’s a different story. Imagine a 400+ person “Policy Jury” (a variant of a citizen assembly) drawn from citizens nationwide with mandatory service, focused on one bill or issue. They’d hear from experts, take an oath to decide based on their own judgment, then vote by secret ballot. This wouldn’t replace elections entirely, but it could make our decision-making process less performative and more substantive.

2. Unbundle Higher Ed. Universities are key to our innovation ecosystem, yet we may rely on them too much. A recent article makes the case that the sheer number of roles they play creates bureaucracy that can stifle the technological progress we so desperately need. Academic training produces technical experts rewarded for discovery but are less focused on scaling and implementation. The system also prizes novelty above other measures of quality, which can leave practical impact under-valued. If we want more technology to succeed commercially, we may need fresh organizational and financial models. In other words, is it time to unbundle the university? (If you like this line of thinking, learn more about metascience with this introduction.)

3. Block Parties. I’ve got block parties on the brain. They are not just summer fun, but democracy in miniature: neighbors meeting, weaving social fabric and creating in a shared space. Our Know Your Neighbor grants have powered clean-ups, PTAs, chess clubs, and student-run thrift event. Why not more street-wide gatherings? Last week, I spoke with a block that’s been doing theirs for years. Over and over, people said it’s what helped them feel rooted here. Which makes me wonder: what if we had more of them? Who’s in?

Until next time,

Miles

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