Now that true Gov 2.0 reformers are inside the White House, things are really taking off.
However, many, many officials and agencies are still shying away from true engagement with the public. I think that’s a shame. People are hungry for engagement with their government, and we must sieze the moment. I believe in the fierce urgency of now.
Adriel Hampton is a journalist, Gov 2.0 and new media strategist, public servant, and licensed private investigator. He is running for U.S. Congress in the 2009 special election for California’s 10th District.
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2 responses to “Meeting People is Easy (apologies to Thom Yorke)”
People are less hungry for engagement than you may think. According to an unscientific study – http://www.governingpeople.com/Home/15383 – people are more hungry for online services and data delivery; and neither is occurring as much as it could.
This is a most important point I believe, Ari. If engagement theories are built on assumptions rather than empirical studies, the turn towards gov2.0 may become exclusive (rather than inclusive) and it may leave behind more than one child.
So who is actually keen on engagement (dialogue, production of content, critical review of data and provision of input and ideas) and who is keen on passively consuming [some] information? And why?
Is this a consumer/producer divide within groups of citizens? Does it have to do with age, ethnicity, social class – or gender?
How keen on engagement are children and teenagers? Those very young people who feel strongly (too strongly for many adults – can we talk about this powerful taboo?) but are prevented from making a difference – until they arrive at an age and in a stage where the greatest passion is about to slowly fade or become redirected (do we fear engaged citizens as they might be challenging and demanding beyond convenience levels?).
Are we ready to open a can of worms and discuss it frankly? We – that’s bold, I know as I am a German living and paying tax in the UK – have got a great chance in these days of relatively young web2.0 possibilities, can we make use of them and get those back on board who gave up at some point? I feel that could make all the difference, Adriel.
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