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joshua bigley
Boynton Beach, FL
United States

Teacher,

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Implement a TED-style Open-democracy social-networking Website for gov, citizens, voting on issues, bills, elections, local, state, National

The US government should start a TED-clone forum to open up democracy and engage the public. Video clips would be elected officials and cabinet discussing real issues and solutions on stage in a public forum. And the site should have all the functions of Ted if not more-even voting with a paper trail and the counts sent to your in-box--perhaps even petition like. On the site could be activist ads, and petitions and letter signing functions (TED could do the same), and links to social media and not-for-profit organizations. Sequestered in a neat out of the way window that doesn't clutter the message.

Citizens could even be given a password and user-name with proper details, birth date/residence, etc. or even an up-link card to access the site anywhere with the swipe of an identity card (optional)--as in Internet cafes and hotels and bus/train stations, cafes.

It should be equipped with email-sharing forums for connecting people with skills and like ideas to get movements and local businesses devoted to community started.

Business is an extension of a community, it is empowered by the community-it must reflect and serve the community, therefore the nation, the world, the people....happiness and equality will flourish, and government will be held accountable (more so than now).

On this site-should be a box for 'VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE"--impeaching and censuring elected officials. (that would have to be loosely moderated somehow). otherwise every crank will be impeaching representatives. But the idea is to include more citizens in the decision making process--evolving into a direct-democracy based on reason, research, and activism.

None of this top down control and rule we have today. The people are not being heard, not being listened to, and blatantly-ignored, disenfranchised.
Money talks and citizens are fodder and dead peasants to government and big corporations. The military is the tip of the spear for behemoths, corporations:big-gov welfare. Hmm.

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Marcus Cake
- +1
Jun 3 2011: The EDemocracy online political network (EDemocracy) is a Web 3.0 online political network (or facebook) which aims to enhance democracy by providing a costless and immediate means to distribute information, facilitate collaboration, exchange content, manage workflow, deliver transparency and allow political sovereignty to be exercised directly by citizens. The content includes profiles, processes and outcomes. Profiles are self-published by each politicians, citizens, government executives and institutions. Process content includes issues (military, economic, social, environmental, etc), Priorities, policies (proposed, pending, current, redundant), Projects (government expenditure, volunteers, partners needed. Outcome content includes announcements, videos, audio, reports (feasibility, economic, financial, environmental, industry, market) blogs, pictures and articles. All content is linked and rated for quality and quantity.

The EDemocracy online political networks applies Web 3.0 online network principles. This includes semantic search, peer to peer networks, communities of common interest focused on a common purpose, comprehensive user generated content, workflow management, scalable open source web applications and cloud computing power from Amazon.

Additional information is available from http://www.marcuscake.com/economic-development/edemocracy . There is a screenshot of the prototype on the page that provides an overview of community structure.

Edemocracy 3.0 is also a Web 3.0 network on the critical path to Economic Development 4.0. Economic Development 4.0 is summarised at http://www.marcuscake.com/economic-development and in a presentation available on the same page.

The traditional model of democracy determines outcomes based on ideology – left or right. The eDemocracy 3.0 model allows all participants to see through the community to determine outcomes based on issues.
Amod Dange
- 0
Feb 18 2011: Great idea. An essential central component of such a system would be identity management. Since this system should ideally be global, the big question is, who should be the custodian of all that data? The solution is to structure the framework in such a way that every user is in control of her own data at all times. Private enterprises could offer "Personal Data Lockers" (Amazon and Google would be good candidates) that conform to globally accepted security standards.

If you aren't already familiar with how the internet is moving from "push" to "pull" take a look at www.thepowerofpull.com
- joshua bigley
  - +1
  Feb 25 2011: I don't think it should be global. I think each community and each nation could develop their own version through an open-software program. Local communities or states can develop their own systems of data security. What do you think?
Andrei Iuroaia 500+
- +3
TEDx Organizer

Feb 18 2011: I am also working on such a system. I have the idea...rather a compilation of good ideas fused together in synergy. My concept is not based on involving gov officials but rather citizens. The modern political mechanism, even in it's most free and democratic form still does not allow proper citizen participation. The framework is simple: you have an on-line social media network, there is a list of policy issues, a list of NGOs, individual citizens and gov. organisms suggesting solutions ( policy drafts), then you have a centralized way of tracking each citizens concerned as well as specializations. The next step is open debate loosely moderated ( this requires citizens with similar concerns and specializations to deliberate in specialized forums) followed by formulation of bills supported by public initiatives ( a number of signatures is necessary to trigger a referendum). As a user you are informed by the site about those topics that concern you or that you might be a useful asset in solving or that somebody you know recomends.

There are several weak points like who has a saying on what issue and does it count if I have a PhD at all or just on some issues. There is also the need to link such a framework to information supplier sites and in such a way that relevant information is easily accessible in any sub-forum debating a particular specific issue. There is also the issue of involving those citizens who do not have internet access or do not know how to use it ( this is particularly relevant in my country).

There is much to say on this topic, but I can assure you from the get go that such a system will provide citizens a mechanism for solving their own local issues much easier and help local communities link to each other by providing already aplayed solutions as an open source reference on the site.

This is actually what I'm working on and researching and I invite all those interested to contact me as I am not lacking ideas but rather resourc
- Mihnea Iuga
  - 0
  Feb 27 2011: The issue of not having an internet access is a crucial one if this system is to be implemented successfully. Even in the modern-tech cities, some people still don't go online, for various reasons.
  
  The question this Platform ought to answer is: Who am I trying to reach? Because people interested in policies, politicians' background, status of issues, are doing research aside the existence of a platform. The system can only offer a (virtual) space of debate and communication, BUT if it does not reach those who do not have an internet acces (technological and economical means), the "voice" that will be heard will not be respresentative for the community...
- Stanley Forrester
  - 0
  May 6 2011: What kind of tool are you thinking about? I am imagining a suite of citizenship apps to accomplish some of the ideas on this forum.
Mel Brennan 500+
- 0
TEDx Organizer

Feb 18 2011: Working on this right now...but it won't be through the government. CitizenLife.com: We. The People. Offering the tool-set for anyone to live a citizen life, through PC and mobile functionality. Republic in real-time, democracy delivered. From entering an address and getting one's representatives, local to global, at the click of a button, but also what they did today, to organizing for activism, service and/or volunteerism with like-minded persons around the globe, CitizenLife will be possessed of an elegant yet intuitive drilldown on data provided not just by reps and gov't themselves, but by "Melvin's Hellions," a student-driven effort to be present and hold gov't accountable during the workday. Interested in helping? Fire off a communique to melvingbrennan3rd@gmail.com!
- joshua bigley
  - 0
  Feb 23 2011: I'm interested. I'm just not computer savvy or rich.
  Is your plan private/for profit?
  
  It must be open-source and 100% public domain. Like independent radio.
  - Mel Brennan 500+
    
    +1
    TEDx Organizer
    
    Mar 2 2011: Agreed. And, it also must have a mechanism for the propagation of authentic and actionable information. How do mitigate spin without structure enabled towards those ends? Some framework, itself transparent and assault-able, must also accompany the open nature of the experience and toolset, about which we agree. Does require some innovation to both manifest IDEO-esque design thinking and to bridge the remaining digital divide, but not as much money as one might think. Seeing this is movement-driven, and not money-driven, is probably the best model, in my view. I do think that saying to the local Papa Johns, "Hey, you can contribute and partner too" isn't anything other than inclusive.
- joshua bigley
  - 0
  Feb 23 2011: It seems there are a number of people out there starting some version or another. I really want to see something that can take off and change the game of politics so representatives are drawn to it and held accountable--TED style. So a public forum, on stage.
  
  And there are forums like Care2. If TEd talkers are scientists and architects and engineers solving problems and Tedsters are interested in implementing them, the doers--the scientists,etc, cant be elected officials--cuz they wont be doing what they would be doing. It make you think, politicians are really just people with no skill, little knowledge, and little use. I guess that's why there politicians.
- Mihnea Iuga
  - 0
  Feb 27 2011: I am really interested in the accountabilty of the workday of a governement representative. But how exactly should that have an effect? I have seen protests (both violent and peaceful) with no direct or effective consequence on the behaviour of the government official. I have seen lobbying campaigns that did not have a desired result in policy making.
  
  In this perspective, will the platform be more of a helping tool for the vote decision, than an immediate sanctioning system?
- Wayne Busby 30+
  - 0
  Mar 8 2011: I love the accountability that will be defined through the transparency your program provides. Great work.
Christophe Cop 500+
- 0
TED Attendee TEDx Organizer Associate

Feb 17 2011: I don't think we should wait for the government to do this, but build it ourselves.

Better develop the tool in open source, and possible to use in any country

Would be awesome
- joshua bigley
  - 0
  Feb 17 2011: No, I know, I thought of that as I was writing it, and thought wow i should start that myself, but then I thought, hw could i get elected officials to participate. I'm nobody really. But i suppose submissions could be made--video files of town hall meetings, etc. but i dont think more rhetoric and bogus propaganda would serve the system. it needs active participation of elected officials talking about the complexities of n idea and solutions, not pandering and lying and gunslinging...
  
  And it needs political will--by the people to actively vote people out with he click of a button who do not hold themselves accountable. If done right it could garner of enough support and affect change. And it would offer a medium for all candidates to run, not just the rich--uploading would be free. Profiles with sponsorships declared (not financial sponsorships but NGO, non-profits, community centers--endorsements)
  
  So an NGo or community group could click on a button that endorses the candidate and fill out a profile-so the activist group or charity or ngo's bio is posted and linked. In this way, no-names could find themselves on a n official ballot. i would like to get something like this started, and would ask for help to anyone willing to reach out in any way
- joshua bigley
  - 0
  Feb 17 2011: and any financial sponsorships could be added by users--building a long bio on the candidate or elected official in a easy convenient even fun structure
- Mel Brennan 500+
  - 0
  TEDx Organizer
  
  Feb 18 2011: There you go! Agreed!
Mohamed Abdel Samad
- 0
Feb 17 2011: I believe that is a great idea. I believe also it can be a great idea for country like Egypt starting its new democratic era to have such an initiative to have a better way listening to the people needs and contributions
- joshua bigley
  - 0
  Feb 17 2011: I hope you do. Good luck to you brother!

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