hello seddie it’s an honor to be with you this
it’s an honor to be with you this
it’s an honor to be with you this evening
evening
evening Satana Nelda taluk versus wah it might
Satana Nelda taluk versus wah it might
Satana Nelda taluk versus wah it might strike you as odd that at a TED event
strike you as odd that at a TED event
strike you as odd that at a TED event here in France one of the speakers is
here in France one of the speakers is
here in France one of the speakers is from the United States I was going to
from the United States I was going to
from the United States I was going to give my talk on false a but I’m sure
give my talk on false a but I’m sure
give my talk on false a but I’m sure that your English is better plus I know
that your English is better plus I know
that your English is better plus I know how much you love it when we come here
how much you love it when we come here
how much you love it when we come here and speak to you in English a few months
and speak to you in English a few months
and speak to you in English a few months ago I lost my job in a mass layoff my
ago I lost my job in a mass layoff my
ago I lost my job in a mass layoff my colleagues and I worked in the White
colleagues and I worked in the White
colleagues and I worked in the White House for Barack Obama on the team using
House for Barack Obama on the team using
House for Barack Obama on the team using social media and the internet to connect
social media and the internet to connect
social media and the internet to connect with people in America and around the
with people in America and around the
with people in America and around the world today I want to share some of the
world today I want to share some of the
world today I want to share some of the lessons we learned but how governments
lessons we learned but how governments
lessons we learned but how governments can use social media and the Internet to
can use social media and the Internet to
can use social media and the Internet to have real substantive conversations of
have real substantive conversations of
have real substantive conversations of the people that they serve to use
the people that they serve to use
the people that they serve to use technology to help rebuild trust and
technology to help rebuild trust and
technology to help rebuild trust and improve the dynamism of our democracy
wait a second you might be asking
wait a second you might be asking yourself what about the most recent
yourself what about the most recent
yourself what about the most recent election in the United States or France
election in the United States or France
election in the United States or France or England or Holland makes this guy
or England or Holland makes this guy
or England or Holland makes this guy think that democracy and the internet
think that democracy and the internet
think that democracy and the internet mix well together this is a fair
mix well together this is a fair
mix well together this is a fair question in recent experience the
question in recent experience the
question in recent experience the Internet has done more to amplify our
Internet has done more to amplify our
Internet has done more to amplify our prejudices and make our system
prejudices and make our system
prejudices and make our system vulnerable to manipulation then it has
vulnerable to manipulation then it has
vulnerable to manipulation then it has to bring us together as EV Williams one
to bring us together as EV Williams one
to bring us together as EV Williams one of the founders of Twitter and medium
of the founders of Twitter and medium
of the founders of Twitter and medium and blogger noted recently the internet
and blogger noted recently the internet
and blogger noted recently the internet is broken so the answer can’t be that we
is broken so the answer can’t be that we
is broken so the answer can’t be that we should simply place our trust in social
should simply place our trust in social
should simply place our trust in social media and expect that with time things
media and expect that with time things
media and expect that with time things will get better
will get better
will get better platforms have a lot of work to do to
platforms have a lot of work to do to
platforms have a lot of work to do to dial down the intensity and the anger
dial down the intensity and the anger
dial down the intensity and the anger and the
and the
and the partisanship and the trolling and until
partisanship and the trolling and until
partisanship and the trolling and until that happens there’s no reason for us to
that happens there’s no reason for us to
that happens there’s no reason for us to expect that snapchat will give us a
expect that snapchat will give us a
expect that snapchat will give us a better president than Twitter did but
better president than Twitter did but
better president than Twitter did but any answer to this question must begin
any answer to this question must begin
any answer to this question must begin by admitting that for all their
by admitting that for all their
by admitting that for all their drawbacks online platforms are the most
drawbacks online platforms are the most
drawbacks online platforms are the most powerful tools for mass communications
powerful tools for mass communications
powerful tools for mass communications and mass organizing that human beings
and mass organizing that human beings
and mass organizing that human beings have ever built and we’re still in the
have ever built and we’re still in the
have ever built and we’re still in the early years so we have to give serious
early years so we have to give serious
early years so we have to give serious consideration all of us together to how
consideration all of us together to how
consideration all of us together to how we can harness technology to create more
we can harness technology to create more
we can harness technology to create more productive opportunities for feedback
productive opportunities for feedback
productive opportunities for feedback and pursuit and participation in our
and pursuit and participation in our
and pursuit and participation in our civic life our team at the White House
civic life our team at the White House
civic life our team at the White House was called the office of digital
was called the office of digital
was called the office of digital strategy the work of that office evolved
strategy the work of that office evolved
strategy the work of that office evolved along with the consumer web in 2009
along with the consumer web in 2009
along with the consumer web in 2009 there was a MySpace page and by 2016 we
there was a MySpace page and by 2016 we
there was a MySpace page and by 2016 we were posting to Instagram stores and
were posting to Instagram stores and
were posting to Instagram stores and along the way there were many videos and
along the way there were many videos and
along the way there were many videos and tweets and gifts and every other unit of
tweets and gifts and every other unit of
tweets and gifts and every other unit of social media that you can imagine
Digital Strategy was brand new and
Digital Strategy was brand new and everything that we did in the office we
everything that we did in the office we
everything that we did in the office we were doing for the first time sort of
were doing for the first time sort of
were doing for the first time sort of like a startup but like other startups
like a startup but like other startups
like a startup but like other startups we had a mission statement except ours
we had a mission statement except ours
we had a mission statement except ours was given to us by President Barack
was given to us by President Barack
was given to us by President Barack Obama connects people with purpose use
Obama connects people with purpose use
Obama connects people with purpose use the internet and social media to help
the internet and social media to help
the internet and social media to help people across America feel like they
people across America feel like they
people across America feel like they were reflected in their government see
were reflected in their government see
were reflected in their government see themselves reflected in their government
themselves reflected in their government
themselves reflected in their government to feel that they were being heard and
to feel that they were being heard and
to feel that they were being heard and to know that they were included in the
to know that they were included in the
to know that they were included in the process few things that we did in the
process few things that we did in the
process few things that we did in the office of digital strategy live up to
office of digital strategy live up to
office of digital strategy live up to this mission better than we the people
this mission better than we the people
this mission better than we the people an online petitions platform and this is
an online petitions platform and this is
an online petitions platform and this is where I want to focus my attention today
where I want to focus my attention today
where I want to focus my attention today the First Amendment to the US
the First Amendment to the US
the First Amendment to the US Constitution enshrines the right to
Constitution enshrines the right to
Constitution enshrines the right to petition alongside the rights of speech
petition alongside the rights of speech
petition alongside the rights of speech assembly and religion it has roots in
assembly and religion it has roots in
assembly and religion it has roots in the Magna Carta and yet when I say the
the Magna Carta and yet when I say the
the Magna Carta and yet when I say the word petition most people think a
word petition most people think a
word petition most people think a clipboard and a pen and it’s being
clipboard and a pen and it’s being
clipboard and a pen and it’s being passed around for your signature let’s
passed around for your signature let’s
passed around for your signature let’s take a broader view I want you to think
take a broader view I want you to think
take a broader view I want you to think of it as the right of
of it as the right of
of it as the right of people to take part in their government
people to take part in their government
people to take part in their government the thing is the First Amendment doesn’t
the thing is the First Amendment doesn’t
the thing is the First Amendment doesn’t say a lot about how you’re supposed to
say a lot about how you’re supposed to
say a lot about how you’re supposed to exercise this right who do you give a
exercise this right who do you give a
exercise this right who do you give a petition to how do they respond built in
petition to how do they respond built in
petition to how do they respond built in 2011 We the People was an effort to
2011 We the People was an effort to
2011 We the People was an effort to answer some of these questions it wasn’t
answer some of these questions it wasn’t
answer some of these questions it wasn’t perfect and with time it got better by
perfect and with time it got better by
perfect and with time it got better by the time that we left the White House
the time that we left the White House
the time that we left the White House any petition that received 100,000
any petition that received 100,000
any petition that received 100,000 signatures in 30 days got a response
signatures in 30 days got a response
signatures in 30 days got a response within two months and as it turns out
within two months and as it turns out
within two months and as it turns out many people like to exercise this right
many people like to exercise this right
many people like to exercise this right to petition by asking us to do things we
to petition by asking us to do things we
to petition by asking us to do things we didn’t always want to talk about like
didn’t always want to talk about like
didn’t always want to talk about like pardon Edward Snowden or prohibit
pardon Edward Snowden or prohibit
pardon Edward Snowden or prohibit mandatory prohibit laws for mandatory
mandatory prohibit laws for mandatory
mandatory prohibit laws for mandatory vaccines or support Kurdish independence
vaccines or support Kurdish independence
vaccines or support Kurdish independence there is not a single time when I was at
there is not a single time when I was at
there is not a single time when I was at the White House that I remember a
the White House that I remember a
the White House that I remember a petition saying you guys are awesome
petition saying you guys are awesome
petition saying you guys are awesome keep it up but after all that’s the
keep it up but after all that’s the
keep it up but after all that’s the point petitions are a way for people to
point petitions are a way for people to
point petitions are a way for people to interrupt when they don’t feel like
interrupt when they don’t feel like
interrupt when they don’t feel like they’re being heard many times our
they’re being heard many times our
they’re being heard many times our answer was no sometimes yes and
answer was no sometimes yes and
answer was no sometimes yes and sometimes well that’s an interesting
sometimes well that’s an interesting
sometimes well that’s an interesting idea but we’re not going to deport
idea but we’re not going to deport
idea but we’re not going to deport Justin Beiber
but here’s a point that I really want to
but here’s a point that I really want to hammer home serious petitions received
hammer home serious petitions received
hammer home serious petitions received serious consideration even when the
serious consideration even when the
serious consideration even when the answer was no we wanted people’s
answer was no we wanted people’s
answer was no we wanted people’s experience to be validated by the
experience to be validated by the
experience to be validated by the process and you can see this reflected
process and you can see this reflected
process and you can see this reflected when petitions reach the highest levels
when petitions reach the highest levels
when petitions reach the highest levels of the White House engaged in sit and
of the White House engaged in sit and
of the White House engaged in sit and they they cause serious debates across
they they cause serious debates across
they they cause serious debates across the US government and across experts
the US government and across experts
the US government and across experts across throughout the country you know a
across throughout the country you know a
across throughout the country you know a petition was what held helped to hold
petition was what held helped to hold
petition was what held helped to hold Barack Obama to his word on net
Barack Obama to his word on net
Barack Obama to his word on net neutrality it was a petition that helped
neutrality it was a petition that helped
neutrality it was a petition that helped to lead to a law on cellphone unlocking
to lead to a law on cellphone unlocking
to lead to a law on cellphone unlocking and it affected many many other White
and it affected many many other White
and it affected many many other White House initiatives over the years so what
House initiatives over the years so what
House initiatives over the years so what are the lessons that we should take away
are the lessons that we should take away
are the lessons that we should take away from this experience about civic
from this experience about civic
from this experience about civic technology I want to propose three the
technology I want to propose three the
technology I want to propose three the first one is when technology doesn’t
first one is when technology doesn’t
first one is when technology doesn’t work don’t assume user error some of our
work don’t assume user error some of our
work don’t assume user error some of our most popular petitions asks us to do
most popular petitions asks us to do
most popular petitions asks us to do things that were a little silly like
things that were a little silly like
things that were a little silly like build a Death Star or replace the
build a Death Star or replace the
build a Death Star or replace the national anthem with a theme song from
national anthem with a theme song from
national anthem with a theme song from My Little Pony Friendship is Magic
My Little Pony Friendship is Magic
My Little Pony Friendship is Magic friendship is magic some people some
friendship is magic some people some
friendship is magic some people some observers in the media in particular
observers in the media in particular
observers in the media in particular like to use these examples to suggest
like to use these examples to suggest
like to use these examples to suggest that the petitions platform reflected
that the petitions platform reflected
that the petitions platform reflected some of the fundamental drawbacks of
some of the fundamental drawbacks of
some of the fundamental drawbacks of democracy namely the potential for user
democracy namely the potential for user
democracy namely the potential for user error petitions were just a high-tech
error petitions were just a high-tech
error petitions were just a high-tech way to troll the White House at best it
way to troll the White House at best it
way to troll the White House at best it was a Avenue for slacktivism but if
was a Avenue for slacktivism but if
was a Avenue for slacktivism but if there was a flaw in the platform it was
there was a flaw in the platform it was
there was a flaw in the platform it was a flaw in the product design in 2015
a flaw in the product design in 2015
a flaw in the product design in 2015 when we began a site redesign we went
when we began a site redesign we went
when we began a site redesign we went into it with the assumption that success
into it with the assumption that success
into it with the assumption that success meant more users more petitions and more
meant more users more petitions and more
meant more users more petitions and more signatures these are after all the
signatures these are after all the
signatures these are after all the traditional markers of success for
traditional markers of success for
traditional markers of success for consumer technology fortunately we had
consumer technology fortunately we had
consumer technology fortunately we had the wisdom to ask for input from the
the wisdom to ask for input from the
the wisdom to ask for input from the public and one product designer gave us
public and one product designer gave us
public and one product designer gave us a very simple but intuitive
a very simple but intuitive
a very simple but intuitive piece of feedback he said you guys are
piece of feedback he said you guys are
piece of feedback he said you guys are the government you don’t serve you don’t
the government you don’t serve you don’t
the government you don’t serve you don’t sell ads you serve people the question
sell ads you serve people the question
sell ads you serve people the question should be how do we attract more daily
should be how do we attract more daily
should be how do we attract more daily active users the question is how do we
active users the question is how do we
active users the question is how do we generate better petitions ones that lead
generate better petitions ones that lead
generate better petitions ones that lead to action and conversation a petition
to action and conversation a petition
to action and conversation a petition that receives a million signatures on an
that receives a million signatures on an
that receives a million signatures on an issue that’s all over the news carries
issue that’s all over the news carries
issue that’s all over the news carries symbolic value but it doesn’t tell us
symbolic value but it doesn’t tell us
symbolic value but it doesn’t tell us very much that we don’t already know the
very much that we don’t already know the
very much that we don’t already know the most powerful petitions are the ones
most powerful petitions are the ones
most powerful petitions are the ones that shed light on an issue that has
that shed light on an issue that has
that shed light on an issue that has been overlooked or that
been overlooked or that
been overlooked or that disproportionately affects disadvantaged
disproportionately affects disadvantaged
disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities a Pew report a Pew
communities a Pew report a Pew
communities a Pew report a Pew foundation report on We the People found
foundation report on We the People found
foundation report on We the People found that 48% of the petitions on the site
that 48% of the petitions on the site
that 48% of the petitions on the site were tagged by users as pertaining to
were tagged by users as pertaining to
were tagged by users as pertaining to civil rights or human rights if a
civil rights or human rights if a
civil rights or human rights if a hundred thousand people think that their
hundred thousand people think that their
hundred thousand people think that their civil rights are at risk
civil rights are at risk
civil rights are at risk that’s something the government should
that’s something the government should
that’s something the government should absolutely look into here’s an example
absolutely look into here’s an example
absolutely look into here’s an example of a petition that I have in mind it
of a petition that I have in mind it
of a petition that I have in mind it asked the President of the United States
asked the President of the United States
asked the President of the United States to intervene on something called the
to intervene on something called the
to intervene on something called the Medicare local coverage determination
Medicare local coverage determination
Medicare local coverage determination for lower limb prosthesis not exactly a
for lower limb prosthesis not exactly a
for lower limb prosthesis not exactly a topic for the evening news but for
topic for the evening news but for
topic for the evening news but for people in the lower limb community it
people in the lower limb community it
people in the lower limb community it could have significant ramifications
could have significant ramifications
could have significant ramifications thanks to the efforts of people in that
thanks to the efforts of people in that
thanks to the efforts of people in that community groups and individuals this
community groups and individuals this
community groups and individuals this petition route garnered 110,000
petition route garnered 110,000
petition route garnered 110,000 signatures
signatures
signatures it was catapulted to the attention of
it was catapulted to the attention of
it was catapulted to the attention of the White House and ultimately it helped
the White House and ultimately it helped
the White House and ultimately it helped to lead to a decision to stall a putting
to lead to a decision to stall a putting
to lead to a decision to stall a putting the rule into effect and this had
the rule into effect and this had
the rule into effect and this had significant implications for people in
significant implications for people in
significant implications for people in the limb loss community lesson two we
the limb loss community lesson two we
the limb loss community lesson two we have to build an accountability the
have to build an accountability the
have to build an accountability the biggest mistake with we the people 1.0
biggest mistake with we the people 1.0
biggest mistake with we the people 1.0 is we didn’t give ourselves a deadline
is we didn’t give ourselves a deadline
is we didn’t give ourselves a deadline and as a result some of the hardest
and as a result some of the hardest
and as a result some of the hardest petitions piled up not because we didn’t
petitions piled up not because we didn’t
petitions piled up not because we didn’t care but because usually there was a
care but because usually there was a
care but because usually there was a debate internally about how we should
debate internally about how we should
debate internally about how we should respond and eventually we made that we
respond and eventually we made that we
respond and eventually we made that we made a change and we made a promise to
made a change and we made a promise to
made a change and we made a promise to respond within 60 days to any petition
respond within 60 days to any petition
respond within 60 days to any petition that crossed the threshold this was a
that crossed the threshold this was a
that crossed the threshold this was a critical decision at one point in 2013
critical decision at one point in 2013
critical decision at one point in 2013 the average weight
the average weight
the average weight for a response was 271 days by 2016 and
for a response was 271 days by 2016 and
for a response was 271 days by 2016 and it dropped to just 34 to get a sense for
it dropped to just 34 to get a sense for
it dropped to just 34 to get a sense for how this impacts petitions in real life
how this impacts petitions in real life
how this impacts petitions in real life I want to point to the example of the
I want to point to the example of the
I want to point to the example of the save crypto petition asking President
save crypto petition asking President
save crypto petition asking President Obama to take a firm stance in favor of
Obama to take a firm stance in favor of
Obama to take a firm stance in favor of strong cryptology strong cryptography
strong cryptology strong cryptography
strong cryptology strong cryptography without backdoors this is an issue that
without backdoors this is an issue that
without backdoors this is an issue that was very hotly debated within the
was very hotly debated within the
was very hotly debated within the technology and national security
technology and national security
technology and national security communities and yet people across some
communities and yet people across some
communities and yet people across some of the most important people across the
of the most important people across the
of the most important people across the United States government were convened
United States government were convened
United States government were convened for meetings to get a response in time
for meetings to get a response in time
for meetings to get a response in time to meet the deadline this is a sort of
to meet the deadline this is a sort of
to meet the deadline this is a sort of petition that previously might have
petition that previously might have
petition that previously might have easily been delayed because it was so
easily been delayed because it was so
easily been delayed because it was so hard to address and while the text of
hard to address and while the text of
hard to address and while the text of the responses may not have always
the responses may not have always
the responses may not have always correspond to the intensity of the
correspond to the intensity of the
correspond to the intensity of the discussion behind closed doors the fact
discussion behind closed doors the fact
discussion behind closed doors the fact is the debate was very heated and the
is the debate was very heated and the
is the debate was very heated and the response was given and this is a good
response was given and this is a good
response was given and this is a good example of how petitions can lead to
example of how petitions can lead to
example of how petitions can lead to very valuable conversations and
very valuable conversations and
very valuable conversations and individuals through their petition can
individuals through their petition can
individuals through their petition can help set the agenda at the highest
help set the agenda at the highest
help set the agenda at the highest levels of the federal government on such
levels of the federal government on such
levels of the federal government on such a critical issue as national security on
a critical issue as national security on
a critical issue as national security on such a critical issue for national
such a critical issue for national
such a critical issue for national security and Technology lesson three
security and Technology lesson three
security and Technology lesson three make it a conversation in six years the
make it a conversation in six years the
make it a conversation in six years the White House issued 268 responses many
White House issued 268 responses many
White House issued 268 responses many times as I noted before the answer was
times as I noted before the answer was
times as I noted before the answer was no or not yet but that shouldn’t be
no or not yet but that shouldn’t be
no or not yet but that shouldn’t be where the conversation ends when
where the conversation ends when
where the conversation ends when somebody signs a petition asking the
somebody signs a petition asking the
somebody signs a petition asking the White House to require police
White House to require police
White House to require police departments across the entire country to
departments across the entire country to
departments across the entire country to our body cameras one of the things that
our body cameras one of the things that
our body cameras one of the things that they’re telling you is that they care
they’re telling you is that they care
they’re telling you is that they care deeply about civil rights criminal
deeply about civil rights criminal
deeply about civil rights criminal justice and police violence so we didn’t
justice and police violence so we didn’t
justice and police violence so we didn’t want to spam people but we did look for
want to spam people but we did look for
want to spam people but we did look for opportunities to extend the conversation
opportunities to extend the conversation
opportunities to extend the conversation even when we didn’t tell people what
even when we didn’t tell people what
even when we didn’t tell people what they wanted to hear we wanted their
they wanted to hear we wanted their
they wanted to hear we wanted their experience to feel validated by the
experience to feel validated by the
experience to feel validated by the process and to wit the average response
process and to wit the average response
process and to wit the average response the average open rate on a response from
the average open rate on a response from
the average open rate on a response from us was 30 to 40 percent on those emails
us was 30 to 40 percent on those emails
us was 30 to 40 percent on those emails which anyone with any experience email
which anyone with any experience email
which anyone with any experience email marketing will tell you is very high and
marketing will tell you is very high and
marketing will tell you is very high and this reflected
this reflected
this reflected high levels of engagement across the
high levels of engagement across the
high levels of engagement across the entire platform it wasn’t unusual in a
entire platform it wasn’t unusual in a
entire platform it wasn’t unusual in a given week for We the People to have
given week for We the People to have
given week for We the People to have many times the number of visitors as
many times the number of visitors as
many times the number of visitors as whitehouse.gov and in six years there
whitehouse.gov and in six years there
whitehouse.gov and in six years there were four hundred and eighty thousand
were four hundred and eighty thousand
were four hundred and eighty thousand petitions twenty nine million users and
petitions twenty nine million users and
petitions twenty nine million users and more than forty million signatures but
more than forty million signatures but
more than forty million signatures but like I said before it wasn’t about the
like I said before it wasn’t about the
like I said before it wasn’t about the numbers where it counted creating
numbers where it counted creating
numbers where it counted creating opportunities for people to engage
opportunities for people to engage
opportunities for people to engage productively with their government to
productively with their government to
productively with their government to provide feedback we were just beginning
provide feedback we were just beginning
provide feedback we were just beginning to scratch the surface one of the
to scratch the surface one of the
to scratch the surface one of the consequences of the current chaos in
consequences of the current chaos in
consequences of the current chaos in American politics is that we’re a
American politics is that we’re a
American politics is that we’re a deprived of the opportunity to have a
deprived of the opportunity to have a
deprived of the opportunity to have a discussion about what happens next at
discussion about what happens next at
discussion about what happens next at the White House about civic technology
the White House about civic technology
the White House about civic technology the irony of this president is that for
the irony of this president is that for
the irony of this president is that for someone who inspires so much
someone who inspires so much
someone who inspires so much participation he is totally unresponsive
participation he is totally unresponsive
participation he is totally unresponsive to it to give but one example a petition
to it to give but one example a petition
to it to give but one example a petition asking him to release his taxes drew
asking him to release his taxes drew
asking him to release his taxes drew over 1 million signatures and yet the
over 1 million signatures and yet the
over 1 million signatures and yet the White House has made it abundantly clear
White House has made it abundantly clear
White House has made it abundantly clear that no response is forthcoming and this
that no response is forthcoming and this
that no response is forthcoming and this is a shame it runs counter door one of
is a shame it runs counter door one of
is a shame it runs counter door one of the great traditions in American
the great traditions in American
the great traditions in American politics the idea that we are in an
politics the idea that we are in an
politics the idea that we are in an ongoing conversation with our leaders
ongoing conversation with our leaders
ongoing conversation with our leaders this theme was picked up by some of our
this theme was picked up by some of our
this theme was picked up by some of our most revered presidents from Thomas
most revered presidents from Thomas
most revered presidents from Thomas Jefferson Abraham Lincoln Teddy
Jefferson Abraham Lincoln Teddy
Jefferson Abraham Lincoln Teddy Roosevelt to Barack Obama even extends
Roosevelt to Barack Obama even extends
Roosevelt to Barack Obama even extends to the French I’m gonna pander excuse me
to the French I’m gonna pander excuse me
to the French I’m gonna pander excuse me but since we’re in France talking about
but since we’re in France talking about
but since we’re in France talking about American democracy it’s my
American democracy it’s my
American democracy it’s my responsibility to invoke idak ceased it
responsibility to invoke idak ceased it
responsibility to invoke idak ceased it took view when he was just 25 and 1831
took view when he was just 25 and 1831
took view when he was just 25 and 1831 he voyage to America to see our
he voyage to America to see our
he voyage to America to see our representative democracy up close and
representative democracy up close and
representative democracy up close and one of the things that surprised him is
one of the things that surprised him is
one of the things that surprised him is how easily he walked into the White
how easily he walked into the White
how easily he walked into the White House again he was 25 ostensibly writing
House again he was 25 ostensibly writing
House again he was 25 ostensibly writing a book about the American penal system
a book about the American penal system
a book about the American penal system and he was granted an opportunity of 30
and he was granted an opportunity of 30
and he was granted an opportunity of 30 minutes to speak with President Andrew
minutes to speak with President Andrew
minutes to speak with President Andrew Jackson meanwhile in France they were
Jackson meanwhile in France they were
Jackson meanwhile in France they were contemplating a return to the monarchy
contemplating a return to the monarchy
contemplating a return to the monarchy this anecdote is emblematic of the idea
this anecdote is emblematic of the idea
this anecdote is emblematic of the idea that in America the president answers to
that in America the president answers to
that in America the president answers to the people not just in the ballot box
the people not just in the ballot box
the people not just in the ballot box but at town halls by mail and over the
but at town halls by mail and over the
but at town halls by mail and over the phone
phone
phone Americans delight in the thought that we
Americans delight in the thought that we
Americans delight in the thought that we have the ear of our leaders this thought
have the ear of our leaders this thought
have the ear of our leaders this thought is codified in the First Amendment in
is codified in the First Amendment in
is codified in the First Amendment in the powers to assemble to petition and
the powers to assemble to petition and
the powers to assemble to petition and to speak your mind as millions of
to speak your mind as millions of
to speak your mind as millions of Americans have reaffirmed over the past
Americans have reaffirmed over the past
Americans have reaffirmed over the past several months the right to go into the
several months the right to go into the
several months the right to go into the streets to petition to call your
streets to petition to call your
streets to petition to call your representatives to attend town halls
representatives to attend town halls
representatives to attend town halls this is an essential part of a healthy
this is an essential part of a healthy
this is an essential part of a healthy functioning democracy and yet it still
functioning democracy and yet it still
functioning democracy and yet it still leaves something to be desired people go
leaves something to be desired people go
leaves something to be desired people go into the streets when they’re angry and
into the streets when they’re angry and
into the streets when they’re angry and if any of you have experience with
if any of you have experience with
if any of you have experience with customer service you know that when
customer service you know that when
customer service you know that when people are angry is not the best time to
people are angry is not the best time to
people are angry is not the best time to solicit their constructive feedback
technology offers an interesting
technology offers an interesting solution in principle technology makes
solution in principle technology makes
solution in principle technology makes it possible for this feedback to be
it possible for this feedback to be
it possible for this feedback to be contributed more sustainably and
contributed more sustainably and
contributed more sustainably and consistently it can also empower people
consistently it can also empower people
consistently it can also empower people who are socially geographically or
who are socially geographically or
who are socially geographically or culturally remote from power to provide
culturally remote from power to provide
culturally remote from power to provide it and our task now is to figure out how
it and our task now is to figure out how
it and our task now is to figure out how to build it why now because
to build it why now because
to build it why now because representative Dalek representative
representative Dalek representative
representative Dalek representative democracy is under stress the system
democracy is under stress the system
democracy is under stress the system which was able to absorb massive shocks
which was able to absorb massive shocks
which was able to absorb massive shocks in the 18th 19th and 20th centuries asks
in the 18th 19th and 20th centuries asks
in the 18th 19th and 20th centuries asks us to repose trust in representatives
us to repose trust in representatives
us to repose trust in representatives who are more knowledgeable and
who are more knowledgeable and
who are more knowledgeable and experienced to solve big problems a task
experienced to solve big problems a task
experienced to solve big problems a task at scale this doesn’t work if we lose
at scale this doesn’t work if we lose
at scale this doesn’t work if we lose faith that this arrangement will reward
faith that this arrangement will reward
faith that this arrangement will reward us with greater opportunity and Liberty
us with greater opportunity and Liberty
us with greater opportunity and Liberty and yet as research research shows that
and yet as research research shows that
and yet as research research shows that this is precisely what’s taking place
this is precisely what’s taking place
this is precisely what’s taking place among young people not just in the
among young people not just in the
among young people not just in the United States but in liberal democracies
United States but in liberal democracies
United States but in liberal democracies across the world
across the world
across the world likewise frustrated citizens in
likewise frustrated citizens in
likewise frustrated citizens in industrial towns from Pennsylvania to
industrial towns from Pennsylvania to
industrial towns from Pennsylvania to the Paducah day
the Paducah day
the Paducah day feel left out and they’re signaling an
feel left out and they’re signaling an
feel left out and they’re signaling an openness to something else
Jasha monk a political scientist at
Jasha monk a political scientist at Harvard believes that the warning signs
Harvard believes that the warning signs
Harvard believes that the warning signs of democracy are flash and red there are
of democracy are flash and red there are
of democracy are flash and red there are some efforts now to address this
some efforts now to address this
some efforts now to address this including in the technology community
including in the technology community
including in the technology community where there’s a tendency to imagine
where there’s a tendency to imagine
where there’s a tendency to imagine radical solutions that would supplant
radical solutions that would supplant
radical solutions that would supplant our current system to make our
our current system to make our
our current system to make our representative democracy a little bit
representative democracy a little bit
representative democracy a little bit more direct we should be very skeptical
more direct we should be very skeptical
more direct we should be very skeptical brain power should be devoted to
brain power should be devoted to
brain power should be devoted to strengthening our current system not
strengthening our current system not
strengthening our current system not displacing it not just when it comes to
displacing it not just when it comes to
displacing it not just when it comes to basic services and transparency but
basic services and transparency but
basic services and transparency but communication and engagement I don’t
communication and engagement I don’t
communication and engagement I don’t suggest that apps or petitions will be
suggest that apps or petitions will be
suggest that apps or petitions will be the things that solve our democratic
the things that solve our democratic
the things that solve our democratic issues but certainly we can learn from
issues but certainly we can learn from
issues but certainly we can learn from our experiences to make our system
our experiences to make our system
our experiences to make our system stronger the three lessons that I want
stronger the three lessons that I want
stronger the three lessons that I want to reinforce our focus on product design
to reinforce our focus on product design
to reinforce our focus on product design building accountability and make it a
building accountability and make it a
building accountability and make it a conversation a United Nations report on
conversation a United Nations report on
conversation a United Nations report on a participation a ranking of countries
a participation a ranking of countries
a participation a ranking of countries across the world and how they fare in
across the world and how they fare in
across the world and how they fare in these various various dimensions has the
these various various dimensions has the
these various various dimensions has the United States and France tied for 12th
United States and France tied for 12th
United States and France tied for 12th place none other than the United Kingdom
place none other than the United Kingdom
place none other than the United Kingdom a country with a monarch is in first
a country with a monarch is in first
a country with a monarch is in first by contrast oh and in the UK if you get
by contrast oh and in the UK if you get
by contrast oh and in the UK if you get a hundred thousand signatures in their
a hundred thousand signatures in their
a hundred thousand signatures in their petition system Parliament will debate
petition system Parliament will debate
petition system Parliament will debate your proposal live by contrast France
your proposal live by contrast France
your proposal live by contrast France has no petitions platform of its own but
has no petitions platform of its own but
has no petitions platform of its own but you’ve just selected the youngest
you’ve just selected the youngest
you’ve just selected the youngest president in the history of the Republic
president in the history of the Republic
president in the history of the Republic someone with a very ambitious technology
someone with a very ambitious technology
someone with a very ambitious technology platform what better time for you
platform what better time for you
platform what better time for you citizens of France to ask for a bigger
citizens of France to ask for a bigger
citizens of France to ask for a bigger seat at the table so to end my
seat at the table so to end my
seat at the table so to end my presentation on a note of civic
presentation on a note of civic
presentation on a note of civic participation
participation
participation I want to encourage you to visit neuter
I want to encourage you to visit neuter
I want to encourage you to visit neuter pep point x equals E and a zebu PBX
pep point x equals E and a zebu PBX
pep point x equals E and a zebu PBX today via hi detective with senior and I
today via hi detective with senior and I
today via hi detective with senior and I encourage you to add your name to
encourage you to add your name to
encourage you to add your name to petition asking your new leadership to
petition asking your new leadership to
petition asking your new leadership to build a platform for you Nancy
build a platform for you Nancy
build a platform for you Nancy [Applause]
”
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