How Ask Justina™ Works
Most debates jump straight into how—which policy, which tactic, which side—before agreeing on what we’re actually trying to accomplish. That’s how discussions turn into conflict. Ask Justina flips the order: we define shared objectives first, then we work out solutions within clear rules and consistent logic.
Under the hood: the framework
People often argue “who’s right” when much of the fight is actually about preferences. Our framework separates two pathways and reconciles them democratically:
| Decision Path | How We Decide | What We Create | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right or Wrong (non-negotiable) | By shared Principles (rules/limits) and consistent logic | Principles that apply universally and mirror-tested actions that don’t violate our principles | Enforces consistency and equal treatment, reduces double standards, and builds trust. |
| Preference (no right or wrong) | Majority rule—within those Principles as guardrails | A transparent snapshot of collective votes showing what most Americans prefer | Enables democratic choice while preventing mob rule or rights violations. |
In short: the majority chooses among permissible options, and Principles make sure “permissible” never violates fairness, morals, or basic logic. That’s how we get the benefits of democracy without the abuse of mob rule.
Decision path (at a glance)
- Define the Objective (what outcome we want) and why it matters (Ideal).
- Set the Guardrails as one-sentence Principles (universal, mirror-tested).
- Propose Ideas that advance the objective and obey the principles.
- Break into Actions and check feasibility, side effects, sustainability.
- Vote—majority rule inside principled limits; iterate as evidence improves.
Step 1 — Establish Objectives (the “why”)
We start by revealing common ground: the outcomes we want. On Justina, these live as Ideals (why it matters) and high-level Objectives (what we’re aiming to achieve).
- Write the objective in plain language (1–2 sentences), make it measurable, and tie it to an Ideal.
- Agree that common objectives, once agreed upon, must be pursued. This prevents us from becoming stagnant and disinterested in progress.
Step 2 — Define the Rules (the “must nots”)
We capture rules as Principles—shared limits that keep us consistent and fair, even when inconvenient.
- One sentence; universal and testable. Mirror-test before you apply it to others.
- Agree that we must always abide by these rules. Allowing for exceptions opens the door for double standards and puts us right back where we started.
Step 3 — Propose Ideas (the “what we could do”)
Ideas must advance the objective and not break the principles. Explain the logic: goal → method → expected outcome → measurement.
Step 4 — Break into Actions (the “how”)
Decompose ideas into Actions and check feasibility, costs, side effects, and sustainability.
Step 5 — Challenge & Refine
Use Assertions, Principle Violations, and mirror checks to refine solutions without labels or tribal shortcuts.
Step 6 — Vote & Iterate
Votes give weight to the best rules, objectives, and solutions. Because everything is structured, votes become direction—not noise.
What you can do right now
- Vote: set the direction by voting on rules, objectives, ideas, and actions.
- Propose: add one Ideal and one Idea linked together.
- Stress-test: use mirror tests and principle checks instead of labels.
- Refine: improve actions with feasibility, cost/benefit, and side-effect mitigations.
Tip: If a debate jumps straight to tactics, ask “What’s the shared objective?” If there isn’t one, you’re not solving a problem—you’re just adding to the confusion.