Spencer Critchley

Communication and Change

Politics & Society

Obama promised, and is delivering, “a more perfect union”

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Originally posted at Personal Democracy Forum / TechPresident, in reply to a post by Micah Sifry called “The Obama Disconnect: What Happens When Myth Meets Reality”, which claims that Barack Obama has never really been committed to the grassroots.

A thoughtful post, Micah, but I disagree with the assumptions it’s based on, in particular what seems to be an assumption that Barack Obama promised, or could ever deliver, perfection.

Obama has always said that the goal is not perfection but “a more perfect union”. And he has always said that it was going to mean hard work (think back to how many times you’ve heard that phrase from him), not something he would wrap up and deliver to us in the first year.

The Obama campaign was, and the Obama presidency is, part of a great tradition of hard workers that includes the founders, Lincoln, FDR and King. And I would say that the role of the grassroots is disappointing only if you’re dissatisfied with the most grassroots-driven campaign and administration in history.
[Read more…] about Obama promised, and is delivering, “a more perfect union”

Local Government 2.0

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Government 2.0 is a big interest of mine – just like at the national level, I think we can make local government more open, participatory and productive by using technology intelligently. Although there’s been talk about this for a while, it’s still early days – e.g. see the new discussion, “What Is Government 2.0?” at the Gov 2.0 ning site.

One example: at Imagination Coast, we’ve formed a Data Visualization group to use graphics to help investors and decision-makers understand the challenges and opportunities in the Central Coast’s sustainable economy.

With the Community Alliance for Safety and Peace, I’m exploring similar ideas for coordinating the many government, law enforcement and non-profit organizations involved in the effort to reduce gang violence in Monterey County. For example, a unified client-centered database of at-risk youth and their families, so that we can devote the same level of attention and customization to helping an at-risk youth stay alive as we would lavish on a customer for a new soda pop. This amounts to adapting the practices of Customer Relationship Management to social services.

Obama: Advancing Civil Liberties in the Face of Difficult Constraints

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My opening statement for the debate at the ACLU Santa Cruz Annual Dinner, Nov 18, 2009:

Thank you for this opportunity to present the civil liberties record of President Obama. I believe that record is already impressive, and I believe it promises to be historic.

Before I begin, let me emphasize that although I worked for President Obama’s election campaign, I do not work for the Obama administration and I speak only for myself here this evening.

When then-Senator Barack Obama was considering whether to run for president, his advisers asked him the simple question that all candidates must be able to answer: “Why should people vote for you?” Part of his answer was this: that on the day he took the oath of office, there would be children all over America who would think differently about what was possible for them. [Read more…] about Obama: Advancing Civil Liberties in the Face of Difficult Constraints

ACLU Debate: Defending Obama’s Civil Liberties Record

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I’ll be arguing the position “Obama: Advancing Civil Liberties in the Face of Difficult Constraints” at the ACLU Santa Cruz chapter’s annual meeting Wednesday, Nov 18, 2009, starting at 7:00 pm.

From the ACLU: “Each speaker will have opportunities to stake out their positions, to rebut their opponent’s statements, and to offer a final conclusion. Following the debate, the floor will be opened for questions and comments from the audience.”

Politicians’ Web town halls boost their approval ratings – Nextgov

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Lawmakers’ Internet-based town hall meetings increase constituents’ approval ratings for the politician, enhance citizen engagement in politics and ultimately impact the probability of participants voting for that member of Congress, according to a new Congressional Management Foundation report. CMF Executive Director Beverley Bell said online meetings offer lawmakers a flexible tool for communication in addition to traditional in-person meetings, tele-town halls and newsletters. “People like hearing from – and feeling heard by – their representatives in all formats, including online,” she said Monday.

Researchers from CMF, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, Northeastern University, Ohio State University, and the University of California-Riverside found that members who engaged in online town halls experienced an average net approval rating jump of 18 points with similar increases in trust and perceptions of personal qualities. Town hall meetings also attract people from demographics not traditionally engaged in politics as well as those frustrated with the political system. About 96 percent of those polled said they would like to be included in similar events in the future.

Among those taking part in the study were Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin and Reps. Earl Blumenauer, Michael Capuano, James Clyburn, Mike Conaway, Anna Eshoo, Jack Kingston, Zoe Lofgren, Don Manzullo, Jim Matheson, David Price, George Radanovich, and Dave Weldon. The town halls with the House members were conducted in the summer and fall of 2006, prior to the 2006 election, and the session with Levin was conducted in the summer of 2008.

Read the full CMF report. (PDF)

via nextgov.com

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