hey everyone um this is really embarrassing but I just need to ask a
embarrassing but I just need to ask a
embarrassing but I just need to ask a question could I borrow some money from
question could I borrow some money from
question could I borrow some money from anyone anyway I just need 10 20 maybe 30
anyone anyway I just need 10 20 maybe 30
anyone anyway I just need 10 20 maybe 30 percent of your income is that okay any
percent of your income is that okay any
percent of your income is that okay any takers no okay I get it you’re not sure
takers no okay I get it you’re not sure
takers no okay I get it you’re not sure if you can trust me you don’t know what
if you can trust me you don’t know what
if you can trust me you don’t know what I would do without money and by the way
I would do without money and by the way
I would do without money and by the way if the answer is yes see me backstage
if the answer is yes see me backstage
if the answer is yes see me backstage after the talk you can talk about it but
after the talk you can talk about it but
after the talk you can talk about it but you know you’re laughing but the thing
you know you’re laughing but the thing
you know you’re laughing but the thing is we give that much money every year to
is we give that much money every year to
is we give that much money every year to the government yet 80% of us don’t trust
the government yet 80% of us don’t trust
the government yet 80% of us don’t trust government to do the right thing that’s
government to do the right thing that’s
government to do the right thing that’s been on the rise for the past couple
been on the rise for the past couple
been on the rise for the past couple decades it’s the highest in modern
decades it’s the highest in modern
decades it’s the highest in modern history and it’s rising all over the
history and it’s rising all over the
history and it’s rising all over the world in fact and you know a couple
world in fact and you know a couple
world in fact and you know a couple reasons were cited in this study that
reasons were cited in this study that
reasons were cited in this study that was done by PU one we feel a little bit
was done by PU one we feel a little bit
was done by PU one we feel a little bit disengaged and disconnected with
disengaged and disconnected with
disengaged and disconnected with government really and we feel like
government really and we feel like
government really and we feel like government doesn’t pay attention to what
government doesn’t pay attention to what
government doesn’t pay attention to what we say or do so 80 percent of us don’t
we say or do so 80 percent of us don’t
we say or do so 80 percent of us don’t trust government 80 percent of us feel
trust government 80 percent of us feel
trust government 80 percent of us feel like the government officials don’t care
like the government officials don’t care
like the government officials don’t care about what we think and when we do
about what we think and when we do
about what we think and when we do connect with government it’s usually not
connect with government it’s usually not
connect with government it’s usually not a very good experience just think about
a very good experience just think about
a very good experience just think about that line at the DMV or the red tape if
that line at the DMV or the red tape if
that line at the DMV or the red tape if you own a small business have been
you own a small business have been
you own a small business have been trying to get a permit and so we we
trying to get a permit and so we we
trying to get a permit and so we we think about all this and many people
think about all this and many people
think about all this and many people conclude okay well you know it’s time to
conclude okay well you know it’s time to
conclude okay well you know it’s time to get rid of a lot of these government
get rid of a lot of these government
get rid of a lot of these government programs and defund them or something
programs and defund them or something
programs and defund them or something else there’s got to be some other
else there’s got to be some other
else there’s got to be some other solution but at the same time the
solution but at the same time the
solution but at the same time the government programs themselves people
government programs themselves people
government programs themselves people actually trust those and even rely on
actually trust those and even rely on
actually trust those and even rely on those things like defense things like
those things like defense things like
those things like defense things like food safety even fixing potholes and
food safety even fixing potholes and
food safety even fixing potholes and infrastructure and so what we really
infrastructure and so what we really
infrastructure and so what we really need is a better government one that
need is a better government one that
need is a better government one that works for us and one that we can trust
works for us and one that we can trust
works for us and one that we can trust so I want to talk about what you can do
so I want to talk about what you can do
so I want to talk about what you can do to make our government better and
to make our government better and
to make our government better and whether it’s possible and why it’s so
whether it’s possible and why it’s so
whether it’s possible and why it’s so important but I wanna take a step back
important but I wanna take a step back
important but I wanna take a step back first when we think about government
first when we think about government
first when we think about government well what do we generally think about I
well what do we generally think about I
well what do we generally think about I think about politics and this is like
think about politics and this is like
think about politics and this is like the horse races these are the election
the horse races these are the election
the horse races these are the election polls and the talking heads on CNN and
polls and the talking heads on CNN and
polls and the talking heads on CNN and it’s in our face all the time
it’s in our face all the time
it’s in our face all the time but it’s important it’s important to our
but it’s important it’s important to our
but it’s important it’s important to our democracy important to our government
democracy important to our government
democracy important to our government then we also think about policy these
then we also think about policy these
then we also think about policy these are the rules these are the laws and
are the rules these are the laws and
are the rules these are the laws and ordinances and obviously without good
ordinances and obviously without good
ordinances and obviously without good laws and good rules you know we’re not
laws and good rules you know we’re not
laws and good rules you know we’re not gonna have a very good government right
gonna have a very good government right
gonna have a very good government right burnt not a very good functioning
burnt not a very good functioning
burnt not a very good functioning society but there’s one more thing that
society but there’s one more thing that
society but there’s one more thing that we think about maybe a little bit less
we think about maybe a little bit less
we think about maybe a little bit less than these two and that’s process and it
than these two and that’s process and it
than these two and that’s process and it sounds like a dry thing but it’s really
sounds like a dry thing but it’s really
sounds like a dry thing but it’s really important process is both the
important process is both the
important process is both the implementation we’ll call that I of
implementation we’ll call that I of
implementation we’ll call that I of these policies so you know if you’ve got
these policies so you know if you’ve got
these policies so you know if you’ve got a policy that you want to enact you know
a policy that you want to enact you know
a policy that you want to enact you know what’s the end users experience from
what’s the end users experience from
what’s the end users experience from that or the deliberation of these
that or the deliberation of these
that or the deliberation of these policies so that’s the process by which
policies so that’s the process by which
policies so that’s the process by which we got to that policy was that our
we got to that policy was that our
we got to that policy was that our lobbyists involved was a bipartisan now
lobbyists involved was a bipartisan now
lobbyists involved was a bipartisan now I’ve worked in all three branches of
I’ve worked in all three branches of
I’ve worked in all three branches of government and in the private sector
government and in the private sector
government and in the private sector I’ve worked with governments all over
I’ve worked with governments all over
I’ve worked with governments all over the world and from all that experience
the world and from all that experience
the world and from all that experience the one thing I’ve learned is this
the one thing I’ve learned is this
the one thing I’ve learned is this politics policy process you need all
politics policy process you need all
politics policy process you need all three in order to have a successful
three in order to have a successful
three in order to have a successful outcome in government you cannot do one
outcome in government you cannot do one
outcome in government you cannot do one without the other two and expect a
without the other two and expect a
without the other two and expect a successful outcome so if you could have
successful outcome so if you could have
successful outcome so if you could have a great policy really well-written and
a great policy really well-written and
a great policy really well-written and it could have a lot of political support
it could have a lot of political support
it could have a lot of political support everyone loves it but if there’s no
everyone loves it but if there’s no
everyone loves it but if there’s no process to implement it that’s gonna
process to implement it that’s gonna
process to implement it that’s gonna work or if the stakeholders that need to
work or if the stakeholders that need to
work or if the stakeholders that need to be involved aren’t involved from the
be involved aren’t involved from the
be involved aren’t involved from the beginning it’s not gonna work out very
beginning it’s not gonna work out very
beginning it’s not gonna work out very well in the long run or in the short run
well in the long run or in the short run
well in the long run or in the short run and process is actually a big part of
and process is actually a big part of
and process is actually a big part of the explanation more than you think as
the explanation more than you think as
the explanation more than you think as to why the trust in government has been
to why the trust in government has been
to why the trust in government has been on the decline for the past couple
on the decline for the past couple
on the decline for the past couple decades think about those long lines at
decades think about those long lines at
decades think about those long lines at the DMV that’s poor implementation a
the DMV that’s poor implementation a
the DMV that’s poor implementation a private sector entity did that no one
private sector entity did that no one
private sector entity did that no one would go to them think about
would go to them think about
would go to them think about deliberation how we don’t feel like
deliberation how we don’t feel like
deliberation how we don’t feel like we’re included or voice matters as much
we’re included or voice matters as much
we’re included or voice matters as much we’re not included from the very
we’re not included from the very
we’re not included from the very beginning on a lot of these policy
beginning on a lot of these policy
beginning on a lot of these policy processes bad deliberation bad process
processes bad deliberation bad process
processes bad deliberation bad process now I have some good news finally the
now I have some good news finally the
now I have some good news finally the good news is that while better
good news is that while better
good news is that while better government starts with better process
government starts with better process
government starts with better process but our process actually starts with you
but our process actually starts with you
but our process actually starts with you and I’m not just saying this to make you
and I’m not just saying this to make you
and I’m not just saying this to make you feel better it’s true so my first job in
feel better it’s true so my first job in
feel better it’s true so my first job in politics was in Capitol Hill my job was
politics was in Capitol Hill my job was
politics was in Capitol Hill my job was actually to
actually to
actually to receive calls emails and messages from
receive calls emails and messages from
receive calls emails and messages from constituents and one of the things that
constituents and one of the things that
constituents and one of the things that we saw was we got a lot of calls and
we saw was we got a lot of calls and
we saw was we got a lot of calls and emails about politics a lot of move out
emails about politics a lot of move out
emails about politics a lot of move out policy but all the calls and emails
policy but all the calls and emails
policy but all the calls and emails about process I put in a separate pile
about process I put in a separate pile
about process I put in a separate pile and those were priority calls and emails
and those were priority calls and emails
and those were priority calls and emails you see when veterans started calling
you see when veterans started calling
you see when veterans started calling about how the Veterans Health
about how the Veterans Health
about how the Veterans Health Administration had a big backlog of
Administration had a big backlog of
Administration had a big backlog of claims that the needed a process and
claims that the needed a process and
claims that the needed a process and some Veterans weren’t getting their
some Veterans weren’t getting their
some Veterans weren’t getting their benefits we made that our number one
benefits we made that our number one
benefits we made that our number one priority in the office we made sure
priority in the office we made sure
priority in the office we made sure every single veteran was able to get
every single veteran was able to get
every single veteran was able to get through that process and we called it an
through that process and we called it an
through that process and we called it an email the VA and we said you need to fix
email the VA and we said you need to fix
email the VA and we said you need to fix that process and when farmers started
that process and when farmers started
that process and when farmers started calling an email mailing us and telling
calling an email mailing us and telling
calling an email mailing us and telling us that because of freezing temperatures
us that because of freezing temperatures
us that because of freezing temperatures they had record low crop yields we made
they had record low crop yields we made
they had record low crop yields we made sure that the US Department of
sure that the US Department of
sure that the US Department of Agriculture fixed their process of
Agriculture fixed their process of
Agriculture fixed their process of getting them emergency relief that they
getting them emergency relief that they
getting them emergency relief that they needed your voice is incredibly powerful
needed your voice is incredibly powerful
needed your voice is incredibly powerful when it comes to process and your voice
when it comes to process and your voice
when it comes to process and your voice actually creates a mandate so when you
actually creates a mandate so when you
actually creates a mandate so when you call when you show up when you speak up
call when you show up when you speak up
call when you show up when you speak up and when you say that you want processes
and when you say that you want processes
and when you say that you want processes to change it makes a huge difference and
to change it makes a huge difference and
to change it makes a huge difference and the reason why is because just think
the reason why is because just think
the reason why is because just think about every campaign you’re part of
about every campaign you’re part of
about every campaign you’re part of every campaign promise presidential
every campaign promise presidential
every campaign promise presidential elections are a great example of this
elections are a great example of this
elections are a great example of this everyone says they’re gonna change
everyone says they’re gonna change
everyone says they’re gonna change Washington drain the swamp hope and
Washington drain the swamp hope and
Washington drain the swamp hope and change we’ve heard it for years now
change we’ve heard it for years now
change we’ve heard it for years now right exactly but you know when they do
right exactly but you know when they do
right exactly but you know when they do go into office and then they hear from
go into office and then they hear from
go into office and then they hear from constituents or from people that work
constituents or from people that work
constituents or from people that work with their agency that the process is
with their agency that the process is
with their agency that the process is messed up that turns on alarm bells in
messed up that turns on alarm bells in
messed up that turns on alarm bells in their head and says oh wait a minute
their head and says oh wait a minute
their head and says oh wait a minute this I promise this when I first came
this I promise this when I first came
this I promise this when I first came here so here’s the thing though if you
here so here’s the thing though if you
here so here’s the thing though if you do reach out to your leaders and they
do reach out to your leaders and they
do reach out to your leaders and they don’t respond to you about process then
don’t respond to you about process then
don’t respond to you about process then you also know that’s time for new
you also know that’s time for new
you also know that’s time for new leaders it’s time to take them out so
leaders it’s time to take them out so
leaders it’s time to take them out so process is incredibly important and we
process is incredibly important and we
process is incredibly important and we need to keep our leaders accountable on
need to keep our leaders accountable on
need to keep our leaders accountable on process because it’s what’s annoying us
process because it’s what’s annoying us
process because it’s what’s annoying us and what’s making us upset about the way
and what’s making us upset about the way
and what’s making us upset about the way government works and so your voice does
government works and so your voice does
government works and so your voice does two things one it makes process a
two things one it makes process a
two things one it makes process a priority for our leaders and two it
priority for our leaders and two it
priority for our leaders and two it enables the change makers and government
enables the change makers and government
enables the change makers and government to innovate and to change things so I’ll
to innovate and to change things so I’ll
to innovate and to change things so I’ll give you an example of that so at the
give you an example of that so at the
give you an example of that so at the White House I ran a task for
White House I ran a task for
White House I ran a task for on technology policy and one of the
on technology policy and one of the
on technology policy and one of the things that we were looking at was you
things that we were looking at was you
things that we were looking at was you know how we can use technology expertise
know how we can use technology expertise
know how we can use technology expertise to save on costs and make processes
to save on costs and make processes
to save on costs and make processes better and we found that agencies would
better and we found that agencies would
better and we found that agencies would procure software customized to whatever
procure software customized to whatever
procure software customized to whatever they need which was great and they would
they need which was great and they would
they need which was great and they would a lot of times build it in-house so I’ll
a lot of times build it in-house so I’ll
a lot of times build it in-house so I’ll take a hypothetical example here so the
take a hypothetical example here so the
take a hypothetical example here so the Department of Treasury let’s say needs a
Department of Treasury let’s say needs a
Department of Treasury let’s say needs a new payroll software and so they make it
new payroll software and so they make it
new payroll software and so they make it in-house spend a million or two million
in-house spend a million or two million
in-house spend a million or two million dollars great they’ve got their payroll
dollars great they’ve got their payroll
dollars great they’ve got their payroll system then the Department of State
system then the Department of State
system then the Department of State needs a similar payroll system but
needs a similar payroll system but
needs a similar payroll system but they’re not talking to the Department of
they’re not talking to the Department of
they’re not talking to the Department of Treasury and so they make their own
Treasury and so they make their own
Treasury and so they make their own payroll system and then ten other
payroll system and then ten other
payroll system and then ten other agencies start making payroll systems
agencies start making payroll systems
agencies start making payroll systems and so now you’re spending millions and
and so now you’re spending millions and
and so now you’re spending millions and millions of dollars on something the
millions of dollars on something the
millions of dollars on something the government already owns and so we said
government already owns and so we said
government already owns and so we said okay well we’re gonna have a central
okay well we’re gonna have a central
okay well we’re gonna have a central repository where everyone submits all
repository where everyone submits all
repository where everyone submits all the custom software that they’ve built
the custom software that they’ve built
the custom software that they’ve built and we’re gonna go one step further
and we’re gonna go one step further
and we’re gonna go one step further sure State Department will go to the
sure State Department will go to the
sure State Department will go to the repository and say oh there’s already a
repository and say oh there’s already a
repository and say oh there’s already a payroll system we don’t have to build
payroll system we don’t have to build
payroll system we don’t have to build our own but then we’re gonna share that
our own but then we’re gonna share that
our own but then we’re gonna share that with the general public and so if you
with the general public and so if you
with the general public and so if you have a business I need the payroll
have a business I need the payroll
have a business I need the payroll system you could use the Department of
system you could use the Department of
system you could use the Department of Treasury’s payroll system for all you
Treasury’s payroll system for all you
Treasury’s payroll system for all you want so isn’t that great right because
want so isn’t that great right because
want so isn’t that great right because now you’re giving the taxpayers a
now you’re giving the taxpayers a
now you’re giving the taxpayers a product that their tax dollars paid for
product that their tax dollars paid for
product that their tax dollars paid for but here’s the thing about government
but here’s the thing about government
but here’s the thing about government it’s very risk-averse in those working
it’s very risk-averse in those working
it’s very risk-averse in those working environments and so innovators feel like
environments and so innovators feel like
environments and so innovators feel like they can only make incremental change
they can only make incremental change
they can only make incremental change when there’s no mandate from the outside
when there’s no mandate from the outside
when there’s no mandate from the outside and so you know we ended up tempering
and so you know we ended up tempering
and so you know we ended up tempering down the policy and we said okay you
down the policy and we said okay you
down the policy and we said okay you know only 20 percent of the the source
know only 20 percent of the the source
know only 20 percent of the the source code in that repository will be released
code in that repository will be released
code in that repository will be released to the general public and we put it out
to the general public and we put it out
to the general public and we put it out for public comment not thinking we would
for public comment not thinking we would
for public comment not thinking we would get much of a response but somehow some
get much of a response but somehow some
get much of a response but somehow some people did catch down in this and
people did catch down in this and
people did catch down in this and started publicizing it and then we got
started publicizing it and then we got
started publicizing it and then we got tons of response and it was fantastic
tons of response and it was fantastic
tons of response and it was fantastic why not why wouldn’t it be bad and so
why not why wouldn’t it be bad and so
why not why wouldn’t it be bad and so those public comments really enabled the
those public comments really enabled the
those public comments really enabled the innovators in government to change
innovators in government to change
innovators in government to change things and push forward with a process
things and push forward with a process
things and push forward with a process that is gonna save us money and time a
that is gonna save us money and time a
that is gonna save us money and time a better process better government starts
better process better government starts
better process better government starts a better process the better process
a better process the better process
a better process the better process really does start with you and get asked
really does start with you and get asked
really does start with you and get asked all the time you know is it possible in
all the time you know is it possible in
all the time you know is it possible in these huge bureaucracies to make
these huge bureaucracies to make
these huge bureaucracies to make government better they’re just too big
government better they’re just too big
government better they’re just too big and the answer is absolutely yes
and the answer is absolutely yes
and the answer is absolutely yes governments all around the world are
governments all around the world are
governments all around the world are doing it and they’re doing an amazing
doing it and they’re doing an amazing
doing it and they’re doing an amazing job and every government everywhere has
job and every government everywhere has
job and every government everywhere has new innovations every day and we all
new innovations every day and we all
new innovations every day and we all share what we’re doing and what’s
share what we’re doing and what’s
share what we’re doing and what’s working well we just need to test and
working well we just need to test and
working well we just need to test and then we need to expand and we need to
then we need to expand and we need to
then we need to expand and we need to expand and and help scale a lot of these
expand and and help scale a lot of these
expand and and help scale a lot of these great solutions so you know are you a
great solutions so you know are you a
great solutions so you know are you a little bit upset that you know you feel
little bit upset that you know you feel
little bit upset that you know you feel disconnected from government in which
disconnected from government in which
disconnected from government in which you could work with government agencies
you could work with government agencies
you could work with government agencies on solutions challenge.gov is a website
on solutions challenge.gov is a website
on solutions challenge.gov is a website where government agencies are
where government agencies are
where government agencies are crowdsourcing of solutions to some of
crowdsourcing of solutions to some of
crowdsourcing of solutions to some of the biggest problems going on right now
the biggest problems going on right now
the biggest problems going on right now like the opioid epidemic you could
like the opioid epidemic you could
like the opioid epidemic you could actually make some money if your idea is
actually make some money if your idea is
actually make some money if your idea is good enough so you know I’m giving you
good enough so you know I’m giving you
good enough so you know I’m giving you ideas to make money rather than asking
ideas to make money rather than asking
ideas to make money rather than asking for money and who likes doing their
for money and who likes doing their
for money and who likes doing their taxes anybody anyone like no taxes now
taxes anybody anyone like no taxes now
taxes anybody anyone like no taxes now yeah there was a yes okay well well
yeah there was a yes okay well well
yeah there was a yes okay well well Estonia the average amount of time it
Estonia the average amount of time it
Estonia the average amount of time it takes for someone to do their taxes
takes for someone to do their taxes
takes for someone to do their taxes three minutes not three weeks not to be
three minutes not three weeks not to be
three minutes not three weeks not to be months why can’t we do that eventually
months why can’t we do that eventually
months why can’t we do that eventually that’s something to shoot for right so
that’s something to shoot for right so
that’s something to shoot for right so there are great solutions going on all
there are great solutions going on all
there are great solutions going on all around the world and even in our
around the world and even in our
around the world and even in our American government and all we need to
American government and all we need to
American government and all we need to do is find the ones that can be scaled
do is find the ones that can be scaled
do is find the ones that can be scaled and scale them with your help better
and scale them with your help better
and scale them with your help better government starts a better process
government starts a better process
government starts a better process better process starts with you I want to
better process starts with you I want to
better process starts with you I want to end by talking about why this is so
end by talking about why this is so
end by talking about why this is so important so there once was a man named
important so there once was a man named
important so there once was a man named kalyanam he lived in India he served in
kalyanam he lived in India he served in
kalyanam he lived in India he served in World War two in the Indian military and
World War two in the Indian military and
World War two in the Indian military and afterwards he stayed active duty and get
afterwards he stayed active duty and get
afterwards he stayed active duty and get a wife and two young sons and it was on
a wife and two young sons and it was on
a wife and two young sons and it was on active duty that one day he suddenly
active duty that one day he suddenly
active duty that one day he suddenly died now the Indian government was new
died now the Indian government was new
died now the Indian government was new at the time and so it didn’t do much
at the time and so it didn’t do much
at the time and so it didn’t do much well it just went its independence but
well it just went its independence but
well it just went its independence but what it did do was take care of his
what it did do was take care of his
what it did do was take care of his fallen soldiers and so with the really
fallen soldiers and so with the really
fallen soldiers and so with the really modest military pension his wife and
modest military pension his wife and
modest military pension his wife and kids were able to get by and in fact his
kids were able to get by and in fact his
kids were able to get by and in fact his oldest son was able to go to medical
oldest son was able to go to medical
oldest son was able to go to medical school graduate from school and go to
school graduate from school and go to
school graduate from school and go to medical school and then come to the
medical school and then come to the
medical school and then come to the United States and become a doctor a
United States and become a doctor a
United States and become a doctor a dream that he’d always wanted now if the
dream that he’d always wanted now if the
dream that he’d always wanted now if the Indian government had screwed up that
Indian government had screwed up that
Indian government had screwed up that pension system in any way if there was
pension system in any way if there was
pension system in any way if there was fraud and abuse if one or two payments
fraud and abuse if one or two payments
fraud and abuse if one or two payments got lost then I don’t know if that
got lost then I don’t know if that
got lost then I don’t know if that boy my father would have been able to
boy my father would have been able to
boy my father would have been able to fulfill his dream you see we all have
fulfill his dream you see we all have
fulfill his dream you see we all have stories like this and you know we’re
stories like this and you know we’re
stories like this and you know we’re pretty resilient people we’re pretty
pretty resilient people we’re pretty
pretty resilient people we’re pretty self-sufficient we don’t need the
self-sufficient we don’t need the
self-sufficient we don’t need the government all the time
government all the time
government all the time but it’d be nice to know that if we had
but it’d be nice to know that if we had
but it’d be nice to know that if we had a government that we could trust but
a government that we could trust but
a government that we could trust but when the time came
when the time came
when the time came we’d be able to rely on it so better
we’d be able to rely on it so better
we’d be able to rely on it so better government starts with better process
government starts with better process
government starts with better process let’s start a movement for better
let’s start a movement for better
let’s start a movement for better government and let’s start a movement
government and let’s start a movement
government and let’s start a movement for better process thank you
for better process thank you
for better process thank you [Applause]
”
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