digital technology democracy revolution digital revolutionizes democracy digital
digital revolutionizes democracy digital
digital revolutionizes democracy digital democratizes revolution and here’s my
democratizes revolution and here’s my
democratizes revolution and here’s my big line you can tweet this one if you
big line you can tweet this one if you
big line you can tweet this one if you want Digital of the people by the people
want Digital of the people by the people
want Digital of the people by the people and for the people who said it sounds to
and for the people who said it sounds to
and for the people who said it sounds to me doesn’t it resonates I said it I said
me doesn’t it resonates I said it I said
me doesn’t it resonates I said it I said it right here right now on the stage of
it right here right now on the stage of
it right here right now on the stage of course I’m paraphrasing Abraham Lincoln
course I’m paraphrasing Abraham Lincoln
course I’m paraphrasing Abraham Lincoln he’s 1863 Gettysburg Address where he
he’s 1863 Gettysburg Address where he
he’s 1863 Gettysburg Address where he says that this nation shall have a new
says that this nation shall have a new
says that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of
birth of freedom and that government of
birth of freedom and that government of the people by the people and for the
the people by the people and for the
the people by the people and for the people shall not perish from this earth
people shall not perish from this earth
people shall not perish from this earth why then why do I conflate government in
why then why do I conflate government in
why then why do I conflate government in digital why do I say digital of the
digital why do I say digital of the
digital why do I say digital of the people by the people and for the people
people by the people and for the people
people by the people and for the people I say this because last year when I
I say this because last year when I
I say this because last year when I voted in the local election I realized
voted in the local election I realized
voted in the local election I realized that the sum total of my democratic
that the sum total of my democratic
that the sum total of my democratic expression had been one pay per vote in
expression had been one pay per vote in
expression had been one pay per vote in four years
four years
four years one paper vote in four years in the
one paper vote in four years in the
one paper vote in four years in the middle of a digital revolution and it
middle of a digital revolution and it
middle of a digital revolution and it seems to me that this revolution offers
seems to me that this revolution offers
seems to me that this revolution offers us a new birth of freedom for our
us a new birth of freedom for our
us a new birth of freedom for our democracy and I am certain that one
democracy and I am certain that one
democracy and I am certain that one paper vote every four years does not a
paper vote every four years does not a
paper vote every four years does not a modern democracy make in fact it does
modern democracy make in fact it does
modern democracy make in fact it does not an ancient democracy make two and a
not an ancient democracy make two and a
not an ancient democracy make two and a half thousand years ago when democracy
half thousand years ago when democracy
half thousand years ago when democracy was first conceived in ancient Greece in
was first conceived in ancient Greece in
was first conceived in ancient Greece in eleven it was practiced as more
eleven it was practiced as more
eleven it was practiced as more participatory deliberative and most
participatory deliberative and most
participatory deliberative and most important regular embedded think of the
important regular embedded think of the
important regular embedded think of the ancient Athenians all 6,000 citizens
ancient Athenians all 6,000 citizens
ancient Athenians all 6,000 citizens would gather together regularly to
would gather together regularly to
would gather together regularly to discuss to debate and decide matters of
discuss to debate and decide matters of
discuss to debate and decide matters of state and here we are today
state and here we are today
state and here we are today another citizen assembly we’re here to
another citizen assembly we’re here to
another citizen assembly we’re here to be inspired we want to imagine our
be inspired we want to imagine our
be inspired we want to imagine our future we want to discuss and debate but
future we want to discuss and debate but
future we want to discuss and debate but we have no power to decide not here not
we have no power to decide not here not
we have no power to decide not here not today we have our one paper vote every
today we have our one paper vote every
today we have our one paper vote every four years the ancient Greeks so many
four years the ancient Greeks so many
four years the ancient Greeks so many years ago and still so far ahead of us
years ago and still so far ahead of us
years ago and still so far ahead of us in this respect of course in this
in this respect of course in this
in this respect of course in this respect
respect
respect think what the ancient Greeks bestowed
think what the ancient Greeks bestowed
think what the ancient Greeks bestowed on its democracy this great word more
on its democracy this great word more
on its democracy this great word more than that our philosophy an idea a way
than that our philosophy an idea a way
than that our philosophy an idea a way of life a belief that every citizen has
of life a belief that every citizen has
of life a belief that every citizen has both the right and the obligation to
both the right and the obligation to
both the right and the obligation to participate in society and democratic
participate in society and democratic
participate in society and democratic decision-making let’s look at the word
decision-making let’s look at the word
decision-making let’s look at the word democracy demos the people Kratos power
democracy demos the people Kratos power
democracy demos the people Kratos power people power power to the people and we
people power power to the people and we
people power power to the people and we live in a democracy don’t we don’t we we
live in a democracy don’t we don’t we we
live in a democracy don’t we don’t we we say we do we believe we do we have the
say we do we believe we do we have the
say we do we believe we do we have the forms and fashions of democracy but if
forms and fashions of democracy but if
forms and fashions of democracy but if you review our democracy against the
you review our democracy against the
you review our democracy against the standard of its which it was originally
standard of its which it was originally
standard of its which it was originally conceived I say we’ve regressed we
conceived I say we’ve regressed we
conceived I say we’ve regressed we progressed in two critical ways first
progressed in two critical ways first
progressed in two critical ways first what we demand of democracy second in
what we demand of democracy second in
what we demand of democracy second in what democracy demands of us and I say
what democracy demands of us and I say
what democracy demands of us and I say to you my message today is that we must
to you my message today is that we must
to you my message today is that we must demand more of our democracy we must
demand more of our democracy we must
demand more of our democracy we must demand that it progresses it evolves it
demand that it progresses it evolves it
demand that it progresses it evolves it modernizes it gives us more it gives
modernizes it gives us more it gives
modernizes it gives us more it gives more power to the people and we must
more power to the people and we must
more power to the people and we must demand more of ourselves for if we don’t
demand more of ourselves for if we don’t
demand more of ourselves for if we don’t demand more change none will come if not
demand more change none will come if not
demand more change none will come if not us then who if not us then who you might
us then who if not us then who you might
us then who if not us then who you might ask yourself will Brooke why should a
ask yourself will Brooke why should a
ask yourself will Brooke why should a democracy change we have a system of
democracy change we have a system of
democracy change we have a system of government that works a system of
government that works a system of
government that works a system of government that has served as well a
government that has served as well a
government that has served as well a system of government based on hundreds
system of government based on hundreds
system of government based on hundreds of years of tradition Westminster indeed
of years of tradition Westminster indeed
of years of tradition Westminster indeed we vote we have rights we’re not an
we vote we have rights we’re not an
we vote we have rights we’re not an autocracy why should we change if only
autocracy why should we change if only
autocracy why should we change if only things were so simple if only we could
things were so simple if only we could
things were so simple if only we could go on as we are now but the price of
go on as we are now but the price of
go on as we are now but the price of freedom is eternal vigilance and just as
freedom is eternal vigilance and just as
freedom is eternal vigilance and just as times change just as culture changes
times change just as culture changes
times change just as culture changes just as our society changes and
just as our society changes and
just as our society changes and technology changes so too should our
technology changes so too should our
technology changes so too should our democracy you’ve all felt this need and
democracy you’ve all felt this need and
democracy you’ve all felt this need and necessity both personally and the grow
necessity both personally and the grow
necessity both personally and the grow make greater momentum that is pushing
make greater momentum that is pushing
make greater momentum that is pushing this forward both nationally and
this forward both nationally and
this forward both nationally and internationally at the moment you’ve
internationally at the moment you’ve
internationally at the moment you’ve failed it you’ve failed it when you see
failed it you’ve failed it when you see
failed it you’ve failed it when you see decisions of local and national
decisions of local and national
decisions of local and national importance influenced more by the
importance influenced more by the
importance influenced more by the powerful than the people by the few
powerful than the people by the few
powerful than the people by the few rather than many
rather than many
rather than many you’ve felt it when our elected
you’ve felt it when our elected
you’ve felt it when our elected representatives play party politics for
representatives play party politics for
representatives play party politics for years upon years seemingly oblivious to
years upon years seemingly oblivious to
years upon years seemingly oblivious to the will of the people on important
the will of the people on important
the will of the people on important issues important issues of basic human
issues important issues of basic human
issues important issues of basic human rights and recognition of international
rights and recognition of international
rights and recognition of international conflict indeed of fundamental human
conflict indeed of fundamental human
conflict indeed of fundamental human existence you’ve felt the need for
existence you’ve felt the need for
existence you’ve felt the need for change as well when you feel that
change as well when you feel that
change as well when you feel that distance and disconnection from national
distance and disconnection from national
distance and disconnection from national decision-making
decision-making
decision-making that leaves us feeling disregarded and
that leaves us feeling disregarded and
that leaves us feeling disregarded and excluded and without a voice and the
excluded and without a voice and the
excluded and without a voice and the price of not changing is very grim the
price of not changing is very grim the
price of not changing is very grim the price of not modernizing our democracy
price of not modernizing our democracy
price of not modernizing our democracy as grim study after study tells us that
as grim study after study tells us that
as grim study after study tells us that when people feel excluded from
when people feel excluded from
when people feel excluded from decision-making when they feel
decision-making when they feel
decision-making when they feel disregarded when they feel their voice
disregarded when they feel their voice
disregarded when they feel their voice is not being heard then the rise of
is not being heard then the rise of
is not being heard then the rise of regionalism insular ISM and other such
regionalism insular ISM and other such
regionalism insular ISM and other such isms don’t ever to Baal and when they
isms don’t ever to Baal and when they
isms don’t ever to Baal and when they finally can give voice in anger and
finally can give voice in anger and
finally can give voice in anger and frustration to their views one vote
frustration to their views one vote
frustration to their views one vote every four years
every four years
every four years then surprising and destructive maybe
then surprising and destructive maybe
then surprising and destructive maybe the outcomes we only have to look around
the outcomes we only have to look around
the outcomes we only have to look around the world over the last 18 months to see
the world over the last 18 months to see
the world over the last 18 months to see that we only have to look around and see
that we only have to look around and see
that we only have to look around and see that so if we believe we believe that
that so if we believe we believe that
that so if we believe we believe that our democracies have changed what then
our democracies have changed what then
our democracies have changed what then can we do I’m going to give you three
can we do I’m going to give you three
can we do I’m going to give you three things three things number one believe
things three things number one believe
things three things number one believe that our democracy can and should change
that our democracy can and should change
that our democracy can and should change it’s a tough one we tend to see this as
it’s a tough one we tend to see this as
it’s a tough one we tend to see this as a fixed point around which all our
a fixed point around which all our
a fixed point around which all our democratic decision-making revolves I’m
democratic decision-making revolves I’m
democratic decision-making revolves I’m going to illustrate this by reference to
going to illustrate this by reference to
going to illustrate this by reference to Thomas Jefferson here’s a man who
Thomas Jefferson here’s a man who
Thomas Jefferson here’s a man who basically built a democracy he wrote the
basically built a democracy he wrote the
basically built a democracy he wrote the Declaration of Independence of United
Declaration of Independence of United
Declaration of Independence of United States he was instrumental in framing
States he was instrumental in framing
States he was instrumental in framing their constitution and he saw quite
their constitution and he saw quite
their constitution and he saw quite clearly in those early days that many
clearly in those early days that many
clearly in those early days that many people looked at that Constitution with
people looked at that Constitution with
people looked at that Constitution with st. demonise reverence and deemed it
st. demonise reverence and deemed it
st. demonise reverence and deemed it like the Ark of the Covenant too sacred
like the Ark of the Covenant too sacred
like the Ark of the Covenant too sacred to be touched
but he also believed he saw quite
but he also believed he saw quite clearly in fact and he wrote that just
clearly in fact and he wrote that just
clearly in fact and he wrote that just as times change just as culture changes
as times change just as culture changes
as times change just as culture changes just as science changes as we become
just as science changes as we become
just as science changes as we become more enlightened so too must our laws
more enlightened so too must our laws
more enlightened so too must our laws and our government our institutions
and our government our institutions
and our government our institutions change also so want you to open your
change also so want you to open your
change also so want you to open your mind to the belief that our democracy
mind to the belief that our democracy
mind to the belief that our democracy must evolve and change open your mind
must evolve and change open your mind
must evolve and change open your mind also also open your mind to the forces
also also open your mind to the forces
also also open your mind to the forces that are quite happy with the status quo
that are quite happy with the status quo
that are quite happy with the status quo the forces that understand believers of
the forces that understand believers of
the forces that understand believers of power as it stands that are quite happy
power as it stands that are quite happy
power as it stands that are quite happy to wield greater influence than
to wield greater influence than
to wield greater influence than one-person one-vote the forces that are
one-person one-vote the forces that are
one-person one-vote the forces that are blocked and breaks democratic reform and
blocked and breaks democratic reform and
blocked and breaks democratic reform and evolution for centuries and millennia
evolution for centuries and millennia
evolution for centuries and millennia big business lobbyists political parties
big business lobbyists political parties
big business lobbyists political parties the wealthy the social elite
the wealthy the social elite
the wealthy the social elite traditionalists all these that are stood
traditionalists all these that are stood
traditionalists all these that are stood in the way of democratic reform think
in the way of democratic reform think
in the way of democratic reform think how many centuries that talk or struggle
how many centuries that talk or struggle
how many centuries that talk or struggle for all classes to get the vote for
for all classes to get the vote for
for all classes to get the vote for women for the oppressed and what do we
women for the oppressed and what do we
women for the oppressed and what do we have after centuries of struggle what do
have after centuries of struggle what do
have after centuries of struggle what do we have we have one pay per vote every
we have we have one pay per vote every
we have we have one pay per vote every four years do you want more from your
four years do you want more from your
four years do you want more from your democracy I do I want more the second
democracy I do I want more the second
democracy I do I want more the second thing you can do is to be a digital
thing you can do is to be a digital
thing you can do is to be a digital democracy Digital of the people by the
democracy Digital of the people by the
democracy Digital of the people by the people and for the people what do I mean
people and for the people what do I mean
people and for the people what do I mean by this I mean that we should harness
by this I mean that we should harness
by this I mean that we should harness the momentum of the digital revolution
the momentum of the digital revolution
the momentum of the digital revolution to modernize our democracy quite simply
to modernize our democracy quite simply
to modernize our democracy quite simply Digital is a game changer for democracy
Digital is a game changer for democracy
Digital is a game changer for democracy it Able’s us to deal with one of the
it Able’s us to deal with one of the
it Able’s us to deal with one of the greatest challenges of democracy the
greatest challenges of democracy the
greatest challenges of democracy the challenge of coordination can you
challenge of coordination can you
challenge of coordination can you imagine what it was like to coordinate
imagine what it was like to coordinate
imagine what it was like to coordinate six thousand Athenians all together in
six thousand Athenians all together in
six thousand Athenians all together in decision-making how much more complex is
decision-making how much more complex is
decision-making how much more complex is it to coordinate millions how much more
it to coordinate millions how much more
it to coordinate millions how much more complex is it to coordinate millions and
complex is it to coordinate millions and
complex is it to coordinate millions and it’s this complexity of coordination
it’s this complexity of coordination
it’s this complexity of coordination that has given us a new form of
that has given us a new form of
that has given us a new form of democracy which is an indirect democracy
democracy which is an indirect democracy
democracy which is an indirect democracy or a representation rather than the
or a representation rather than the
or a representation rather than the correct participation by the people that
correct participation by the people that
correct participation by the people that proximity for the people the demos and
where does that leave us
where does that leave us we could have so much more we could have
we could have so much more we could have
we could have so much more we could have so much more than that
so much more than that
so much more than that digital throws it out the window throws
digital throws it out the window throws
digital throws it out the window throws the arguments of indirect democracy
the arguments of indirect democracy
the arguments of indirect democracy representation out the window imagine
representation out the window imagine
representation out the window imagine the ancient Greeks many of them could
the ancient Greeks many of them could
the ancient Greeks many of them could not attend the assembly because they
not attend the assembly because they
not attend the assembly because they were too busy working on their farms
were too busy working on their farms
were too busy working on their farms can you imagine what they would do with
can you imagine what they would do with
can you imagine what they would do with digital technology one hand on the plow
digital technology one hand on the plow
digital technology one hand on the plow plowing the field other hand mobile
plowing the field other hand mobile
plowing the field other hand mobile phone voting just checking out what
phone voting just checking out what
phone voting just checking out what those ancient Persians are up to got to
those ancient Persians are up to got to
those ancient Persians are up to got to keep an eye on them in other words
keep an eye on them in other words
keep an eye on them in other words they’d be doing more than we’re doing
they’d be doing more than we’re doing
they’d be doing more than we’re doing more than we’re doing and we can have so
more than we’re doing and we can have so
more than we’re doing and we can have so much more we can have so much more we
much more we can have so much more we
much more we can have so much more we can have crowd-sourced legislation we
can have crowd-sourced legislation we
can have crowd-sourced legislation we can have web-based community budgeting
can have web-based community budgeting
can have web-based community budgeting we can have online voting
we can have online voting
we can have online voting hold your horses are here say online
hold your horses are here say online
hold your horses are here say online voting you’re trying to take away our
voting you’re trying to take away our
voting you’re trying to take away our democracy sausage no no we say no to
democracy sausage no no we say no to
democracy sausage no no we say no to that I’m not trying to take away you
that I’m not trying to take away you
that I’m not trying to take away you democracy sausage I want you to
democracy sausage I want you to
democracy sausage I want you to celebrate and practice democracy more
celebrate and practice democracy more
celebrate and practice democracy more often and have that sausage more often
often and have that sausage more often
often and have that sausage more often let’s have that democracy sausage a
let’s have that democracy sausage a
let’s have that democracy sausage a couple of times a year at least and
couple of times a year at least and
couple of times a year at least and while you might miss while you might
while you might miss while you might
while you might miss while you might miss the cardboard ballot box and a
miss the cardboard ballot box and a
miss the cardboard ballot box and a piece of paper that goes in it I know no
piece of paper that goes in it I know no
piece of paper that goes in it I know no one will miss a postal plebiscite are we
one will miss a postal plebiscite are we
one will miss a postal plebiscite are we serious we are in the middle of a
serious we are in the middle of a
serious we are in the middle of a digital democracy a digital revolution
digital democracy a digital revolution
digital democracy a digital revolution and we’re asking people to be surveyed
and we’re asking people to be surveyed
and we’re asking people to be surveyed by post this isn’t just things I’m
by post this isn’t just things I’m
by post this isn’t just things I’m making up this is real this is happening
making up this is real this is happening
making up this is real this is happening around the world when I traveled around
around the world when I traveled around
around the world when I traveled around the world on a Churchill fellowship last
the world on a Churchill fellowship last
the world on a Churchill fellowship last year I saw great things in smart and
year I saw great things in smart and
year I saw great things in smart and digital cities the greatest of all was
digital cities the greatest of all was
digital cities the greatest of all was Digital democracy happening in real time
Digital democracy happening in real time
Digital democracy happening in real time and you can google this I want you to go
and you can google this I want you to go
and you can google this I want you to go home and check out hashtag du jour
home and check out hashtag du jour
home and check out hashtag du jour democracy and go and talk about civic
democracy and go and talk about civic
democracy and go and talk about civic technology two examples in Brazil they
technology two examples in Brazil they
technology two examples in Brazil they created an online portal a democracy
created an online portal a democracy
created an online portal a democracy which allows people to participate in
which allows people to participate in
which allows people to participate in national parliamentary debate and had
national parliamentary debate and had
national parliamentary debate and had great success including
great success including
great success including including sourcing vast portions by
including sourcing vast portions by
including sourcing vast portions by crowdsourcing of legislation and in
crowdsourcing of legislation and in
crowdsourcing of legislation and in Seoul where they say the citizen is the
Seoul where they say the citizen is the
Seoul where they say the citizen is the mayor they understand democracy they put
mayor they understand democracy they put
mayor they understand democracy they put the citizen first they’ve created a
the citizen first they’ve created a
the citizen first they’ve created a suite of digital tools so that citizens
suite of digital tools so that citizens
suite of digital tools so that citizens can practice and participate and
can practice and participate and
can practice and participate and co-create their city in its future
inviting on their mobile phones mobile
inviting on their mobile phones mobile voting they push out real-time issues
voting they push out real-time issues
voting they push out real-time issues for the citizens to vote on to provide
for the citizens to vote on to provide
for the citizens to vote on to provide ideas on and even to propose their own
ideas on and even to propose their own
ideas on and even to propose their own ideas for citizens to vote on imagine if
ideas for citizens to vote on imagine if
ideas for citizens to vote on imagine if we here today if we here today had our a
we here today if we here today had our a
we here today if we here today had our a democracy Australia app what issues
democracy Australia app what issues
democracy Australia app what issues we’ll be voting on how would we be
we’ll be voting on how would we be
we’ll be voting on how would we be holding our representatives to account
holding our representatives to account
holding our representatives to account what matters would we be putting forward
what matters would we be putting forward
what matters would we be putting forward our views for public debate just imagine
our views for public debate just imagine
our views for public debate just imagine the third thing we can do is to be
the third thing we can do is to be
the third thing we can do is to be active activist citizens asking not what
active activist citizens asking not what
active activist citizens asking not what our democracy can do for us but what we
our democracy can do for us but what we
our democracy can do for us but what we can do for our democracy the greatest
can do for our democracy the greatest
can do for our democracy the greatest strength of democracy has always been an
strength of democracy has always been an
strength of democracy has always been an active citizenry just as just as
active citizenry just as just as
active citizenry just as just as complacency has always made its Achilles
complacency has always made its Achilles
complacency has always made its Achilles heel we must be active we must not be
heel we must be active we must not be
heel we must be active we must not be content to be told but the government is
content to be told but the government is
content to be told but the government is too complex for the people not content
too complex for the people not content
too complex for the people not content to be so dismayed by what’s happening
to be so dismayed by what’s happening
to be so dismayed by what’s happening political spheres that we withdraw from
political spheres that we withdraw from
political spheres that we withdraw from democracy and turn our back on it we
democracy and turn our back on it we
democracy and turn our back on it we must be active and digital technology
must be active and digital technology
must be active and digital technology makes it so much easier and we can start
makes it so much easier and we can start
makes it so much easier and we can start right here today we could tweet our
right here today we could tweet our
right here today we could tweet our politicians but I believe they ignore
politicians but I believe they ignore
politicians but I believe they ignore them too busy composing their own I
them too busy composing their own I
them too busy composing their own I understand so when you find two minutes
understand so when you find two minutes
understand so when you find two minutes perhaps in a little break today you
perhaps in a little break today you
perhaps in a little break today you might wish to write them off a quick
might wish to write them off a quick
might wish to write them off a quick letter an email if you will which I
letter an email if you will which I
letter an email if you will which I believe they have to respond to and you
believe they have to respond to and you
believe they have to respond to and you might say do you remember I believe in
might say do you remember I believe in
might say do you remember I believe in democracy
democracy
democracy I believe our democracy should evolve as
I believe our democracy should evolve as
I believe our democracy should evolve as times and science and culture changes I
times and science and culture changes I
times and science and culture changes I would like to have a greater role in our
would like to have a greater role in our
would like to have a greater role in our democracy I believe that technology can
democracy I believe that technology can
democracy I believe that technology can play a part in its evolution I would
play a part in its evolution I would
play a part in its evolution I would appreciate your advice on your policies
appreciate your advice on your policies
appreciate your advice on your policies to advance our democracy fair your
to advance our democracy fair your
to advance our democracy fair your sincerely citizen TEDx hashtag digital
sincerely citizen TEDx hashtag digital
sincerely citizen TEDx hashtag digital democracy
democracy
democracy and there you have it momentum we can
and there you have it momentum we can
and there you have it momentum we can all provide momentum to the positive
all provide momentum to the positive
all provide momentum to the positive progress of our democracy whether people
progress of our democracy whether people
progress of our democracy whether people have a greater role power to the people
have a greater role power to the people
have a greater role power to the people Digital democracy did you love the
Digital democracy did you love the
Digital democracy did you love the people by the people and for the people
people by the people and for the people
people by the people and for the people [Applause]
”
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