Dec

22

Policy Hacking the Obama Administration: Wiki White House Event.

sascha's picture

On January 9th, I'll be speaking on what is certain to be an insightful and entertaining panel over at Google DC headquarters. We'll be highlighting some of the new thinking over at New America and contemplating public policy interventions during the next years of the Obama administration. I'm very much looking forward to swapping notes with Craig, Mindy, Ellen, and Nick. Should be an exceedingly fun time. Join us if you can -- here's more.

    Wiki White House: Can Obama Use Technology to Transform Government?

    Technology evangelists believe that Barack Obama has the potential to fundamentally alter communication between the presidency and the people. Wikis in the White House? Online public comments on legislation? A real-time two-way conversation between citizens and their elected officials?

    For better or worse, however, nothing is as easy as it might seem. Federal regulations, First Amendment issues, and just plain common sense are going to slow-- and potentially stagnate-- technological innovation in Washington.

    The New America Foundation and Wired Magazine will host a discussion of what can, should, and must change when the Obama administration takes the reins.

    Friday, January 9, 2009
    12:00pm - 1:30pm

    Lunch will be provided

    Google DC
    1101 New York Avenue, NW
    2nd Floor
    Entrance on Eye Street
    Washington, DC 20001

    Featured Speakers:

      Craig Newmark
      Customer Service Representative and Founder
      craigslist

      Mindy Finn
      Director of E-Strategy
      Mitt Romney for President

      Ellen Miller
      Executive Director
      Sunlight Foundation

      Sascha Meinrath
      Research Director, Wireless Futures Program
      New America Foundation

      Moderator
      Nicholas Thompson
      Fellow, New America Foundation
      Senior Editor, Wired Magazine

    Co-sponsored by New America Foundation, Wired Magazine, and Google

    To RSVP for this event, click on the red button or go to the event page:
    http://www.newamerica.net/events/2008/wiki_white_house

    For questions, contact Stephanie Gunter at (202) 986-2700 x315 or gunter@newamerica.net

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  1. Tom Poe (not verified) on Tue, 2008-12-23 14:37

    Possibly the most obnoxious policy being perpetuated in Washington is the inability of individuals to contact representatives of Congress that do not directly serve my district or state.  What we need is an application that lets me send my message to any elected official and have that message automagically copy to my district/state representative.  For example, if I send a message to Pelosi, and my state representative's name is included in the text, the application automagically copies my message to her/him.

    The important thing, though, is to flag the message as coming from an American citizen, not a so-called constituent.  That way, Pelosi can choose to ignore it at her own peril, knowing a copy also went to my state representative.  One final consideration: the application needs to tally the count, so the whole world knows who the jerks are that refuse to acknowledge the public's will by ignoring the numbers of comments surrounding any given issue.  I think of this as a way to have a 110 million march on Washington, the 21st century way. 

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