Nevada’s second Congressional candidate Daniel Rosen (D-Nev) has a novel approach to his campaign, a vote for him is a vote for you, literally.

“My pledge: As your Representative in Congress, I will vote exactly as you, the citizens in my district, direct me to vote through your participation on this website, or by secure telephone connection to my office in Washington: no ifs, ands, or buts.”

Rosen has vowed to vote on every piece of legislation that comes before him exactly how his constituents tell him to. How? Citizens would vote into his secure website, read about the piece of legistation up for vote and then cast a decision as to how Rosen should vote for it. Direct democracy in action.

The software used is created by Vox Populi Decision Management Systems, Rosen’s software firm where he is the CEO. While I think this idea of direct democracy has some legs, you have to wonder whether or not Rosen is pushing a policy or a product. Is he in fact simply trying to sell the product his company creates and using a political platform as a vehicle? What if the system breaks down, or is breached. Could the people of Nevada trust in Daniel Rosen as a politician to make a voting decision without their help? The problem of someone being a CEO first and a politician second has created all sorts of issues (*cough* Cheney-Halliburton).

Still, it’s an interesting approach and a welcome change in the pool of congressional stagnation. Any change of this broken system is worth looking into.