the problem with a participatory government is that anyone can participate
Today change.gov launched a new feature that allows you to ask the administration questions. The idea is that the people have a direct line to the new administration with out having to go through the press.
I saw this, and, of course, several questions came to mind. How will they sort through the thousands upon thousands of questions they get and decide which ones to answer? How will they answer them? on the site? in a press conference?
You can vote on the importance of others questions, which may be one factor in how they will decide what to answer, and you can do the same in their comments as well as their ‘seat at the table’ feature. But I have the same questions about all of these features. Is this just a gimmick, or are our voices being taken seriously. I believe that Obama et al. want to take us seriously, but I want to know how they are going to accomplish taking us seriously.
At any rate, I went back to see if people thought this was an important question. Well, I was told that 54 like this question and 34 don’t. I was impressed that that many people had read my question, so great. Until I noticed something underneath my ratings. Take a look:
Did you see it? My ‘submission was removed because people believe it is inappropriate.’
Un-f&cking-real. My question is inappropriate? I don’t even have words for how pissed I am. Unpopular, fine, but inappropriate makes it sound like the question was full of expletives or laced with racial epitaphs or something awful like that.
So now, I want to know just who these people are and why my question is so f&cking inappropriate.
And all I can think to say is that the trouble with participatory democracy is that anyone can participate.
Um. I am so offended by your question! It is completely inappropriate. How dare you have the audacity of hope… that someone might read and respond to your question about the questions.
People are weird on the internet because they can be. And I am leaning toward this site really being more for show than providing useful info. But maybe I’m just pessimistic.
[...] “The trouble with participatory government is that anyone can participate” – Megan’s first-hand experience on change.gov; not to suggest that it is representative, but it highlights some of the difficulties this approach is facing. [...]