In “Twilight at Monticello,” author Alan Pell Crawford recounts Thomas Jefferson’s fear that “America was fast becoming a republic in name only, where power may have been derived from the people, but where they possessed it ‘only on the days of their elections.’ After this it is the property of their rulers.” President Obama’s first [...]

“…while all these “apps for democracy” are assumed to be a good thing, are they necessarily what are being sought after by the general public first or foremost from this new relationship structure?”

Florida Justice Summit brings together traditional methods and new technology to create and build an online community I had the pleasure to attend the first Florida Justice Summit on Monday/Tuesday (11/16-17) in Tampa.  The summit was hosted by the Collins Center for Public Policy.  The Collins Center is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that finds [...]

I am borrowing this title from GovLoop.  I’ve been busy.  I don’t know how your summer has shaken out professionally, but for me, it has been one of ongoing discussions, presentations, debate, consultation, and above all new learning about Web 2.0 in the governing process, a/k/a Gov 2.0.   I’ve also been very active and fortunate [...]

Some in government get it.  Others struggle with differentiating the two.  Some still ignore using either. Abstract  As government connects with citizens by using social networks like MySpace and Facebook, or video and imagery publishing sites like YouTube and Flickr, they are finding new outlets for publishing their content.  While using these new streams demonstrate [...]

Building Blocks to Help more Women Achieve their Political Aspirations   Did you know there are only seven women governors, and that women make up only 17% of the members of Congress?  Only 10% of women have ever thought about running for office, compared with 20% of men.  And while more men are online than [...]

Source:  National Geographic Kids You Can’t Engage if You Can’t Connect  I have heard government officials and agency work teams say they have a hard time connecting online with their constituents.  Mainly, their intent is to inform and encourage citizen participation in their planning or policy making.   This gap is also noted in the private [...]