Suggestion for using DIDs to solve the 'group payment for public goods' problem

Dear CCG,

In the text, this section of this week's discussion looks like it was 
quite difficult—about fair compensation for work done—and I have a 
suggestion, given afterwards.

On 2018-11-16 7:03 PM, kim@learningmachine.com wrote:
> Heather Vescent:… in our conversations, everyone has an idea of how you should
>    do it
>    ...snip...
>    ...
>    … but I can't, the last time I did that, I was exploited. I'm
>    traumatized by this now
>...snip
> Heather Vescent: Right - so why don't we work together to ensure
>    this doesn't happen. Why can't we work together to solve this
>    problems for us all?
> 
> Manu Sporny: I think the issue is that we don't know/how/  to
>    solve the problem, heathervescent.


Ironically, this problem—fair compensation for digitized work—was part 
of the reason I joined Web Payments in the first place.

And I think asking for it to be solved now, before DIDs exist, turns 
it into a chicken-and-egg problem.

That is, Heather and Kaliya would like to be fairly compensated, but 
so would Manu, and many others; including people working on digital 
things that have nothing to do with DIDs -- except that when DIDs 
finally exist they may help solve the problem.

So, it seems to me that Kaliya and Heather have three options:

1. Suggest to the main DID code-writers -- some of whom, 
interestingly, have said they also would like a bounty for their work 
-- that a possible bootstrapping could occur if a DID method was made 
especially for the purpose of collecting money for the development of 
DIDs. In other words, all the people who would like to 'crowdfund' 
such an effort -- the code-writing and the evangelizing materials -- 
would then be able to do so through a functional DID system. People 
would create DID Docs and contribute money through the system, and the 
system would allow them to allocate it and track where the money goes.

I don't know if such a system is possible yet; or if it is, it's 
probably hard to make. But the stakes are high: the people who could 
make it work might be able to both be well-compensated, and 
demonstrate what DIDs can do, rather dramatically.

or:

2. Organize other people into the formation of one of the existing 
types of governance of our world, specifically to promote DIDs with: 
crowdfunding, or a non-profit society, or a corporation. Then the 
directors of such an organization, or the members of it, could vote on 
whether to purchase your existing report, and release it.

or:

3. Do volunteer work only; as much as you're comfortable with. And 
wait. Probably eventually DIDs will exist.


Steven Rowat

Received on Saturday, 17 November 2018 04:42:01 UTC