Investing in Democracy - Rasing the Level of Transparency

Every time I hear the pundits describe America as red vs. blue, or liberal vs. conservative, I feel myself wanting to yell at the T.V., it’s about DEMOCRACY! As a nation, democracy is our shared faith. Democracy is what unites us. Without democracy, our fate is never our own. If there was a bumper sticker it would say: Democracy, the anti-Cheney.

Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made. -- Otto von Bismarck.

But what if you own a meat processing plant? Wouldn’t you be better off if you knew how you make sausages? After all, that would be your business. Unless we forget, the American public owns this government. We should have ever right of ownership.

For the first time in human civilization we have the ability to raise democracy to become what was desired from the outset. All men are created equal.

Can there be a better government? Can every man be represented? Now they can.

We could require our federal elected officials to stay in the district they represent 24/7/365. What does that do?

For the first time in history of civilizations we can create a truly transparent government. What if our representatives could only communicate with their fellow elected officials on the record? Thousands of Americans already work from home. Why can’t my Congressman? All that’s needed is a high bandwidth, internet connection. All Congressional committee meetings would be on the record. All meetings of any kind would be on the record. Let the Library of Congress manage the whole thing. The technology isn’t exactly cutting edge. We’ve had it for a while. All communications can now be recorded and available to the public, instantly.

What if a big nasty oil lobbyist wants to speak to a representative from your district? We have free speech in the country. There is no reason the oil industry shouldn’t be allowed access to our elected officials. But as part owner, I demand that any and all communications to my employee be formally recorded and available instantly over the internet. This also goes for anyone entering the Congressman’s office/home.

As a part owner of this government, I would like to see how these sausages are made. The public shouldn’t give up their rights, our elected officials should. By law we need to require that all communications with the public be on-the-record.

Privacy isn’t a right guaranteed to an employee and employees should not be the ones defining their own jobs. If you work for me, I make the rules.

At the same time I’d love to see a new kind of politician. Could we ever get that without revamping the campaign finance system?

How about raising the level of transparency to include the election process?

If television churches can afford their own channel, I can’t imagine why the government can’t. It will just be an extension of what C-SPAN is doing.

TV.GOV would not only be on the internet and cable, it could also be broadcast on local VHF band frequencies now available after the change over to digital. The only thing the public would need is a T.V. with rabbit ears. TV.GOV-1: National; TV.GOV-2 Statewide Candidates; TV.GOV-3 County; etc. . .

TV.GOV should be about the fairness required to allow ANYONE the ability to speak to everyone. Everyone should be equal in the eyes of the law. Everyone should be heard. For the first time in history, they can be. I’m absolutely positive that no one will listen, but that’s not the point. If we desire a government that is responsive to the people, access to the public should be free.

It’s an investment in Democracy. The only thing to fear is fear itself.

If we don’t change, we’ll just get another Will Ferrell for President. It’s only a matter of time.