Others Reaching the Same Conclusions on Democracy 2.0

Ever since this presidential election, the term "Democracy 2.0" has popped up all over the place. While some have a different definition of the term or merely use the term to describe the new administration, it is great for Mobilize.org to see others independently define the term in the same way we do: educated and enabled citizens creating change from the citizen-level.

I read a blog today which referenced Democracy 2.0:

"When Democracy 2.0 takes off with the pervasive availability of web 2.0 technologies and a growing awareness and capabilities of well educated populations, the new debate will be on the relevance and sustainability of those 19th century institutional artifacts of democratic forms of governance."

"There is a real possibility that within the next 25 years civil service reform and the re-invention of the State will once again be on the radar screen. Unlike the Reagan/Thatcher era the challenge will not come from some ideological view of how best to organize the dynamic of state, industry, and society relations but rather because increasing forms of disintermediation occasioned by technology and a more autonomous population render the traditional 19th century forms of democratic governance less relevant."

We are seeing the re-emergence of a service culture, and arguably, we are seeing debates with how government should run, placing ideology versus practicality and best outcomes for the entire population.

The post references these trends abroad as well: http://tinyurl.com/6ldswb.

Constitutional Convention: Building Democracy 2.0 Updates--12.08.08

The Summit team wanted to share with all our readers recent updates to Constitutional Convention: Building Democracy 2.0.

First, we launched an innovative web platform this week, www.democracyupgrade.com, where users can engage an interactive online community in a discussion about upgrading American democracy. Among the features is a Wiki with the text of the Constitution which users are invited to edit. Participants can exchange ideas about building grant summit teams for projects, collaborate on post-election issues, and are invited to submit YouTube videos proposing upgrades to the Constitution.

“Using Web 2.0 platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace, we are providing a platform to engage in a discussion about Democracy 2.0 before the Constitutional Convention begins,” said Nick Troiano, 19, Mobilize.org Technology Officer. “All content submitted and discussed on the site will be integrated in deliberative dialogue sessions during the Convention,” noted Troiano.

Second, in addition to exciting technology, both Generation WE and 18 in ’08 have joined the host of sponsors for the Convention. 18 in ’08, led by 19 year-old David Burstein, will be filming a documentary of the Convention, collecting video from Convention participants and working to get participants flip cameras to document their post-election experiences.

"Now that voters have made their voices heard, the Constitutional Convention provides a unique post-election opportunity for young voters to remain engaged in democracy," said National Constitution Center President and CEO Joseph M. Torsella. "We are proud to host this event at the Constitution Center in Historic Philadelphia, the birthplace of democracy."

Constitutional Convention: Building Democracy 2.0 will give Millennials the opportunity to sustain the election momentum they created to ensure that the civic and political dialogue around major issues affecting them continues and results in action that causes systemic and lasting positive change.

Millennials and their Economic Impact: The Housing Market

From Millennial Makeover:

http://millennialmakeover.blogspot.com/2008/12/millennials-can-also-fix-housing-market.html

Millennials Sound Off on Bailout

Stumbling across this youtube video today, I was reminded of the amazingness of Web 2.0. This young man makes a plea to the country to support the Detroit bailout. He was featured on the UAW's site as well. And who said these issues were too complicated for us young folk?

To Answer the Identity Question, We are "Game-Changers"

Care of Kristen Cambell over at The Case Foundation:

http://www.socialcitizens.org/blog/are-todays-young-people-policital-game-changers


We are game-changers. We do not accept how things are being done and constantly look for ways to innovate and reform. We are just stepping into the political sphere, and I think the in the next few elections, both major gubernatorial elections nationwide and congressional elections, we will see the impacts of Millennials, not just at the polls, but behind the scenes on campaigns and even running for office themselves.

Who Are We?

"Welcome to the socio-literary parlor game of 'Name That Generation,'" writes William Safire of the New York Times in a recent piece that detailed the frustrating and recurring exercise of giving an entire generation a single identity. 

Off the top of my head, these are just some of the names the 95 million young people of America have been dubbed:

Generation Y – due to the fact that we follow Generation X

Generation We - dubbed by billionare Eric Greenberg in a new book

Generation "O" (for Obama) – presumably because the mania has no end

9/11 or Freedom Generation - as a result of the generation-shaping events in 2001

DoSomething Generation - which is leading with 78 votes on the organization's Website

Generation Net (for Internet) - complements to the technology that shaped us 

Generation S (for service) - because Usher wanted in on this game too

Millennial Generation - resulting from the new Millennium we are growing up in

 

The list goes on, whether reflective of the times in which live, the events that have shaped us, the new technology that surrounds us, the rather egoistic ambitions of those who want to be the next Tom Brokaw (who is credited with naming the “Greatest Generation” with his book), or even the alphabet we use.

I have a feeling I am not the only one suffering from this never-ending identity crisis. But maybe it is not a bad thing. Perhaps it is characteristic of the time in which we live when deliberations on these topics are extended by the very nature of their being open to so many voices that have little to no barrier to entry in the debate. No longer can a single book, a single billionaire, or a single artist come along and give an identity to tens of millions of people, though they may try. 

It seems time will be the only solution to this consequence of inclusivity. Everyone has their preference - mine is Millennial Generation - and that's understandable. What is problematic is something being stuck to our generation and not adopted within itself. Maybe we should put all of our technology to good use and settle this once and for all. 

Constitutional Convention: Building Democracy 2.0

We Want YOU to Upgrade OUR Democracy!

Join Mobilize.org, along with Declare Yourself, the National Constitution Center, Change.org, the National Conference on Citizenship, and Why Tuesday?,” for

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION: BUILDING DEMOCRACY 2.0
January 9-11, 2009 at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

Constitutional Convention: Building Democracy 2.0 gives YOU the opportunity to sustain the election momentum YOU created in the 2008 election to ensure that the civic and political dialogue around major issues affecting YOU continues and results in action that causes systemic and lasting positive change.

Get the opportunity to use interactive keypad voting technology and other technology-savvy methods to engage in interactive dialogue about the election, Democracy 2.0, and building your influence.

Compete for funding over the three-day summit, and receive up to $10,000 in grants.

Visit the Convention website at http://www.democracyupgrade.com for more details.

Download the Participant Packet at http://tiny.cc/0ydwC.

For further information, contact the Summit Team at democracyupgrade@mobilize.org.