When Citizens Bypass Government with Technology
The following post featuring a fascinating article about what technology can do to bring about “Democracy for the Next Generation” in local government came from the Davenport Institute’s Gov 2.0 Watch blog. Read it below or find the original here.
Citizens across the country trust their federal, state and local government less. With this lack of trust, citizens are creating apps and using social media to help each other. Some cities are hesitant while others are embracing this phenomenon because technology is here to stay:
Local governments are facing new realities. Citizens’ trust in government has declined, and financial constraints do not allow local governments to deliver all of the services their communities would like. In response, citizens are changing as well. Increasingly, local residents and organizations are seizing opportunities to engage with their communities in their own ways by creating platforms that bypass government. . .
In Alexandria, Va., a citizens’ group launched ACTion Alexandria, an online platform for residents to engage in challenges, debate solutions, share stories and develop relationships, all on their own and without the help or permission of the city government. Even though ACTion Alexandria is a platform created and owned by citizens, the city government supports it and even partners with it.
You can read more here.
