What is Ruck.us?
Ruck.us changes the way we organize ourselves politically. The two-party political system in America is broken and can’t represent the diverse views we hold as a nation. Defining ourselves simply as “Democrats” or “Republicans” diminishes the importance of our individual beliefs and limits our choice as voters. At Ruck.us we recognize that individual networks are more powerful than political parties and that the issues we face are more important than the politics surrounding them. We built Ruck.us to help you find politically like-minded people, share ideas, and take collective action to create the change you need in your community and your country.
See what Ruck.us is about for yourself. Try it now.
How does it work?
We start by helping you find like-minded people. Simply answer a few thought-provoking questions about your views, politics, and values and you’ll be matched up with other Ruck.us members who think like you. This instantly created group is called your “Ruck”. You can follow your Ruck’s political activity across Ruck.us, facebook and twitter, see what issues they’re discussing, and which petitions they’re signing. Ultimately, Ruck.us is about taking action. Think of your Ruck as a megaphone that lets you super-charge your ideas by instantly getting them into the hands of people who are most likely to be passionate about them.
What is a “ruck”?
The word comes from rugby, where players form a ruck when they loosely come together to fight the other team for possession of the ball. In other words, its an informal and spontaneous coming together of people, of no fixed duration, for a strategic purpose. Applying that concept to politics, a ruck is a group of like-minded people who have come together to create change on the issues they’re most passionate about. What’s interesting about Ruck.us is that your ruck is in constant flux; as more members join the site and we learn more about them, your ruck will be automatically shifted and refined to match you better. Rucks give you an innovative way to act collectively with people who think like you.
Can I be anonymous?
Absolutely. Political engagement is personal, and not everyone wants to post his or her views on a public billboard. We get that. We also don’t think that protecting your right to anonymity will undermine the quality of dialogue or engagement. To the contrary, it may enhance it. We will do everything possible to protect your right to discuss politics anonymously while on Ruck.us.
Will other users be able to see my survey answers or other information?
Other people will only be able to see what you want them to see. On your settings page, you can specify exactly which pieces of information you want to share with other members. This includes your location, issues, survey answers and contact information.
What will you do with all of the data you collect?
The sole purpose of our data collection efforts is to get to know you better so that we can match you up with like-minded people and introduce you to collective actions you may support. We will never sell, rent, or trade your personally identifiable information. Data privacy is very important to us. For more on this important subject, please read our privacy policy.
Does ruckus cost anything to use?
No. Ruck.us is free for everyone.
Will any of this really make a difference?
Absolutely. We believe very deeply in the power of collective action, whether that is in support of a statement, a candidate, a campaign, or a belief system. We created Ruck.us to make collective action easier. When large numbers of people take action, our leaders pay attention.
Can I be a Democrat or Republican and still be on Ruckus?
Yes! While we created Ruck.us to be a meaningful political platform in a new technological era, it is open to everyone: Democrats, Republicans, Independents, liberals, conservatives, socialists, greens, libertarians, the right, the left, north, south, east, and west.
Who is behind ruckus?
We are Nathan Daschle, Raymond Glendening, and Assaf Weinberg. Two of us have spent most of our lives in politics, and the other has spent his career building technological solutions to modern problems. All three of us have come together around an idea for improving the way Americans engage in politics. Like most of you, we are passionate about this country and our beliefs, but unmoved by the way politics is presented to us. Over the past few years, we have witnessed a widening gap between the political elites and the rest of the nation. This gap has left most Americans feeling frustrated, cynical, and powerless. At the same time, we have grown amazed at how technology has empowered individuals at the expense of institutions. Recent events around the world have only confirmed this. This gave us the idea for Ruck.us – a way to make political organizing more contemporary, more organic, and ultimately more meaningful. No parties. Just people.
How do I get started?
Simply sign in using your Facebook or Twitter account, tell us about yourself, and we’ll set you up with your Ruck. Alternatively, you can browse “calls to action” others have already created and take action right away.
Can I invite someone into my ruck?
Yes. Your ruck is initially filled with site members we think you have a lot in common with. After that, you’re free to add or remove members from your ruck as you see fit. You can add members to your ruck from their profile pages, or manage your ruck from the “Your Ruck” page.
Can I kick someone out of my ruck?
We know that some matchups just don’t work. You can always remove someone from your ruck the same way you added them. The person won’t be notified, so don’t sweat it. If there’s still room in your ruck, we’ll fill it with another site member we think you’ll get along with.