My First Visit to Change.gov and What I Wrote There
By Giania • Nov 7th, 2008 at 3:37 pm • Category: Politics| Hot: |  |  | | | |
I decided to check out change.gov to see what our President-elect Mr. Obama was up to now that the first big hurdle has been lept. While I was there, skimming the “Additional Issues” section to see what wasn’t a big enough deal to merit it’s own page, I noticed a banner inviting me to share my ideas with our upcoming governmental leaders. Well, I wasn’t about to pass that up (and neither should you). Below, in full, is the first of what may well be many letters to our future President.
Apply the intense momentum seen during the campaign to disseminate information critical to citizens, and galvanize grassroots movements. If enough people can be encouraged to participate, and given the appropriate information to make civic engagement seem worthwhile and important, it will almost surely take wind from the sails of money-driven lobbyists and dubiously funded special interest advocacy groups.
Organization of this nature can only occur when people connect with each other, so supporting initiatives that allow communication without interference such as Net Neutrality are critical. I would argue that the ability to utilize the internet freely is as critical as the freedom of assembly guaranteed to us by our Constitution. Especially because this communications medium is a method of assembly as surely as a public thoroughfare.
I chose to remain rather neutral during the campaign process, but I did make it a point to observe. Obama supporters have been very vocal and adamant, but by all appearances have not been met with the same kind of nose-in-the-air dismissal as the vehement supporters of Ron Paul, for example. (Poor “paultards”.)
It seems to me absolutely essential to maintain the lines of communication in order to to present plans in plain language that the general populace can understand, and the media can deliver without confusing the issues. This will go a long way towards gaining public feedback and helping to allay the fears of those who are uncertain or downright “scared” of what comes next.
Encourage “trickle down” participation, by keeping public discourse with state and local officials and in turn encouraging them to seek the attention and direct discussion lines with their constituency. Encourage these more localized figures to support their local advocacy groups. Urge them to utilize the internet to provide information critical to their area, and to help locals organize and discuss these issues. Many people see their leisure time as too precious to spend in a potentially lengthy town or state meeting, but would be more than happy to sacrifice time at home, at work, or at school to read about the issues and submit feedback if it were as easily accessed as a well-made site.
Furthermore, to support the internet as a means of communication with government (as here in this form) will support a growing number of people in the tech sector (full disclosure: myself included).
During the acceptance speech I heard something that really struck a chord with me. “We can’t fix Wall Street while Main Street suffers.” In that thought I could not agree more, and move to suggest the cure is not simply moving money around. To give the middle and lower classes more financial freedom will simply not teach them how to use their money – which is the true root of economic evils. Ignorance of personal finance is considered normal, even preferable, to thoughtful organization of funds. It is from this ignorance that people open credit cards they can’t pay off, and apply for mortgages well above their means. There is no focus in any public school I have seen or heard of on personal money management, what credit is and how it works, budgeting, the tax process – none of it. This has got to stop. There is simply no excuse for one of the biggest influencing factors on lifestyle (money) to be one of life’s biggest mysteries. Ignorance only serves to destroy.
Let us move above and beyond our draconian nightmare of confusion and legislate-it-all-better and work towards a real future that everyone can have a hand in building and enjoying. To use one of my new favorite phrases (you might know this one): Yes we can.
I’ll be in touch, and I wish you the best of luck over the next four years. Thank you.
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