What if we judged policy by how it affects real life — not political talking points?

The Time & Dignity Test is a simple lens I use to evaluate policy choices:

Does this policy reduce the time people spend in crisis, fear, or bureaucracy — and does it treat everyone involved with dignity?

If the answer to either question is no, the policy fails — no matter how popular or “tough” it sounds.

This framework comes from lived experience, public health research, and decades of observing how institutions shift costs onto individuals who can least afford them.

How the Test Works

Every policy is evaluated on two axes:

TIME

Who is paying the time cost?

  • Time spent managing risk

  • Time navigating systems

  • Time lost to fear, paperwork, or waiting

DIGNITY

Who is being dehumanized?

  • Are people treated as problems or as humans?

  • Does the policy preserve agency and accountability?

  • Does it prevent harm before punishment becomes necessary?