E-democracy pioneer Steven Clift has posted (for him) an unusually pessimistic assessment of how business-as-usual politics may swamp the potential of the Net to re-engage people in political processes. He spoke on Democratic Evolution or Virtual Civil War? at WSIS , and in an email alert about availability of the speech says that in the context of US Presidential elections "The negative uses of technology in politics will tarnish all attempts to use the Internet to do good in politics and community."
To counter this Steven urges people to join him in three campaigns
1. Legally mandating democratic evolution through requirements for notices of public meetings and legislation to be online, with customised information alerts and 'myDemocracy' directories of elected officials and organisations.
2. Create what Steven calls Public Net-Work.... "If e-democracy is primarily about input into government decision-making, "Public Net-Work" is about stakeholder and citizen involvement in the implementation of established government priorities. Leading governments are moving from sole providers to facilitators of those who want to roll up their virtual sleeves and solve similar problems. Think e-volunteerism instead of e- consultation."
3. Online Public Issue Forums - "Localize the democratic evolution! We must establish two-way citizen-based e-democracy forums in every locality and connect them with one another on a national and global basis."
BBC World featured an interview with Steven and others in a recent review of the potential of e-democracy.
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