| What | - Stick to the Subject systemizes the electorate's participation in the democratic process. It brings ordinary people to the policy-making table through an organized process of independent study, face-to-face debate, and ranked-choice voting.
- Stick's system has two interrelated operations: an in-person Discussion Society and an online Knowledge Base.
- The Discussion Society gets each participant's best thinking on policy solutions to problems in the realms of society, culture, technology, state, and the economy through a network of Conversation Sit-Downs.
- Conversation Sit-Downs are round table debates. Six people with varying opinions face each other across a table and exchange points of view. Mutual understanding is the point and not changing minds. The give and take is respectful, courteous, and sticks to the subject.
- The Knowledge Base provides logistical support for the Conversation Sit-Downs and information related to the subjects of discussion.
- Stick uses "just enough" technology. It has no chat rooms, discussion forums, or social media presence. There are no ads or reciprocal links on the website nor is any data collected through it. Stick does not use artificial intelligence and condemns its use as a replacement for human ingenuity.
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| | Who | - Stick is an assembly of people from all points of view, backgrounds, experiences, situations, and visions for Chapel Hill, Orange County, North Carolina, and America.
- It is a companionship of independant thinkers moving policy discourse from the political class to the people; from online to in-person; from rallies and town halls to a network of round table discussions; and from bands of ideological tribes to gatherings of free thinking individuals.
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| When and Where | - The Discussion Society operates during North Carolina's summer, fall, and spring academic terms. The Knowledge Base remains in continuous operation.
- Conversation Sit-Downs are hosted in public locations, such as restaurants, schools, community centers, libraries, bars, cafes, and churches in order to serve as an example of civil discourse to the community.
| | | | How | - Discussion Society members register for a term during the six-week registration period. They are surveyed for their public policy concerns and the top twenty become the term's debate schedule.
- The Knowledge Base adds properly sourced and cited facts and figures for members' independent study.
- Hosting locations are recruited and post schedules of availability for each week.
- Society members reserve seats at the location of their choice. They can attend the same group each week or change among them. They can attend a single sit-down or as many as they wish.
- Members prepare to argue their position on each policy subject using their own resources and the Knowledge Base.
- They attend the Conversation Sit-Down of their choice, make their best case on the policy, and listen to those of others.
- Society members vote using anonymous, ranked-choice voting.
- The vote results are compiled to create a public record for the benefit of community leaders.
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