As I watch this video I can’t help but think, what is this kid going to be when he gets older? What will he think if he looks back and sees this video? What kind of contribution will he make to the world?
So – here goes – I’ve never done anything like this before, so I am a little bit nervous. This post is about a new idea that I have and I NEED your feedback, ideas, possibilities, and connections. I cannot do this without the support of others. So – please support me by posting your thoughts after you read this. I will post updates at least twice a week. Thanks in advance!
I am looking to start a new website. This website would house all local, state, and federal legislation. It would be easily searchable, contain legislative summaries, and give people the opportunity to organize around the legislation.
I believe there is a need for this because right now there is no one site that contains all of this information. This site also has the opportunity truly flatten of the democratic process. It will give people the opportunity to see all of the laws that exist and then it will provide context for those laws. The context is incredibly important here – people need to know what this legislation means to them in their daily lives. It’s true that some legislation, some of the time, means nothing in the lives of average people. There are other instances though where legislation does make a significant impact in the lives of ordinary folks. Sometimes a seemingly innocuous clause can effect the lives of millions.
I want to create a site where people can get this context, digest it, and then decide if they want to do something about it. I want to create a site that will allow ordinary people to mobilize around this information and create change. I want to create a site that brings the individuals who legislate to the same table as the people whose lives are impacted by the legislation. I want to create a dialogue that occurs both online and in person.
The assumption that underlies this entire concept is that people do not have easy access to the laws that impact their everyday existence. Beyond that – just because someone can find the legislation doesn’t mean that they will understand the way it’s written. Most people don’t understand the way in which the bills are written. Moving a step further, I believe that if legislation was easily accessible and understandable that many would be moved to action based upon what they saw; legislation is often loaded with pork projects, special kickbacks to big campaign donors, etc.
I believe that it’s time that people have this information. I also believe that it’s possible for people to have this information at their fingertips in real time. Armed with information I envision a central location where people can interact with one another, with advocacy organizations, with elected officials and their staff, and with other key stakeholders who help guide political process. I want to create a central platform where the process of democroacy occurs – in plain site – for everyone to see.
I’d like to call this project The Great Experiment because – like democracy – this process is a work in progress. It will never be complete and will always be open to the universe of possibilities. Like democracy this site will give efficacy to people – this site will give a voice to those who may have forgotten that they had one. This site is a testament to the idea that people do matter in our system – that we are stronger united than divided.
I implore you to provide me with feedback, suggestions, comments, concerns, connections, etc. I believe this information and interaction is necessary for the strengthening of our civic life and democracy.
I now officially give this process away to you – the reader. Please support this idea by acting as a guiding voice. Thank you!
For the next few posts I will be focusing on the headline Rethinking Poverty. My commitment to this world is to do everything within my power to end poverty on the planet. These may be high hopes but it’s what I feel I’ve been put here to do. If we are to really tackle poverty in an effective way we must first change the conversation and begin looking at it in different ways. It will not be one giant solution that eliminates poverty it will take all of the world’s creativity and innovation to really make the changes that are necessary. You may agree or disagree with the approaches of the folks in the next few posts, but one thing that is apparent with these individuals is that they are willing to be creative and innovative. These individuals are truly forwarding the collective conversation.
LISTENING!!! Listening is about asking questions! As our trainer always told us in Coro “questions are an invitation to possibility.”
This TED Talk is about capitalism and making it work for those who have nothing in the poorest regions of the world. This talk is about giving people the tools and “bootstraps” that will allow them to pull themselves up. This talk is by an incredible woman named Jacqueline Novogratz.
Here’s a question for all watching and reading. How are these ideas forwarding our collective conversation? What place does this conversation have in our local, national, and international dialogue?
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