Democracy 2.0

     At the young age of 33, one of our nation's greatest leaders, Thomas Jefferson, was drafted into constructing the original version of the Declaration of Independence. It has been referred to as an amazing, beautiful example of American prose, but the only thing that people easily recall about the document is the opening statement that "all men are created equal." The largest portion of writing is devoted to a laundry list of complaints and grueling indictment of the King's actions.  It was our fledgling country's line in the sand that we shall take no more. We declared among them that America is a nation if immigrants and we have a right to be governed as we choose. A government by the people and for the benefit of all its citizens.
   The last few months of media coverage during the presidential primaries have been almost unbearable, however, it did offer a chance to witness to overall disdain for the government on both sides of the isle. Some people are jumping out of the skin to make America great again and others are spontaneously igniting for real change. On occasion it has appeared the nation has lost its mind, but over all the bluster is the common theme that people are feeling their rights and voice has been overlooked. Like our forefathers over two hundred years ago, the citizens seem to be calling for a revolution against leadership that has failed to hear its voice. How can this be possible in a digital age when faces and critical minds around the globe have the ability to network better than any time in history?
    Jefferson said "Information is the currency of democracy," and it is difficult imagine why citizens are not louder than ever with  the opportunities that modern technology affords us. He knew that a knowledgeable public was the key to a thriving democracy. to work "for the people by the people." We have the greatest access to information, so by all rights, as a nation we should be showered with success, and yet, a groundswell of unrest has led to the most unlikely pool of candidates and political season to date. In this new Democracy 2.0, people have failed to utilize the information and channels that would offer the rights and freedom they seek..
    Currently, they are over 1.5 billion Facebook users around the globe proving that people are willing to exist within an online community and interact on a regular basis. One would hope that with that kind of connectivity people would  be well informed about the issues surrounding this election cycle and what the candidate stood for, but when asked on the street and exploited by the media, they respond like fools and fail to make a point. For years, non-profit organizations and even some government leaders like here at  http://opengovfoundation.org/projects/madison-project/ have been working on systems to give the citizens access and a platform to voice. but most have failed to catch on in popularity and utilized to their full potential.
     I attended my first town meeting this year with a political candidate and although I have been voting for years, I haven't even slightly engaged or sought out information in previous elections. I felt it easier to go with what I have been exposed to by family or the media. I knew at the time Kasich didn't have a chance to make it to the general election but he was the only candidate to make the trip and give me a chance for that experience. I was choking for information beyond what I could find through electronic channels. You have to fight to gain your own wisdom and not just rely on the words of others. The idea of an avenue that the public can actually implement change with interactive involvement with our lawmakers might solve many of our disenfranchised citizen's gripes, but only if they become involved.Only if they seek knowledge. Only if they own and take command of this information age and internet revolution and  understand the issues they chant so loudly about. We have no hope of standing together or making america great again unless we first choose to make ourselves great.