You’ve got..Democracy?

E-Democracy is another example of information technology spreading to the government. The concept its self comprises the use of electronic communication technology like the internet to make government more accessible to citizens, and thus create more active citizens. The main objectives are to make citizen participation in public policy decision making more direct, as a way to increase transparency and accountability.

This includes but is not limited to, electronic voting, and perhaps even cell phones. Using the internet as a political campaigning tool has become a cheaper and more convenient alternative for many politicians in comparison to traditional door-to-door knocking or telephone campaigning. Candidates are also beginning to use social networking sites to reach younger audiences, in turn, creating potential supporters to campaigns. E-mail chains and political blogs also have had a major impact with online campaigning.

There are obstacles to making a government “E-ready.” The idea of secure citizen identification for elections and other citizen to government transactions still poses an issue of privacy. Another obstacle is that there are many vested interests that would be harmed by a more direct democracy. Amongst these are politicians, media moguls and some interests in big business and trade unions.

For more information check out http://e-democracy.org/?gclid=CK2CnpqqnZgCFQjgZgodrGS6ng

IT’s in Government…..

“A widely separated family inherits a house in which they have to live together.” (Martin Luther King) It does not matter whether people are black or white, from the east or the west or if they happen to practice Christianity, Judaism, Islam or Buddhism. This family must learn to get along because they have no choice but to live with each other under the same roof.

As a result of scientific and industrial revolutions, it is as if the entire world has moved in next door to each other and have become neighbors. With one press of a button a person can have an item shipped from China to Brazil in a matter of days. The internet has made it possible for a person living in New York to visit Egypt without ever having to leave his or her home. Antarctica is accessible to everyone interested, even to those who hate the cold. Now even governments are embracing new technology in an attempt to further connect its people and policies with the creation of an E-government” This house is becoming more and more integrated as we speak.

According to the World Bank,  E-government refers to the use by government agencies of information technologies (such as Wide area networks, the internet, and mobile computing) that have the ability to transform relations with citizens, businesses, and other arms of government. These technologies can serve a variety of different use ends: better delivery of government services to citizens, improved interactions with buisnesses and industry, citizen empowerment through access to information, or more efficient government management. The resulting benefits can be less corruption, increased transparency, greater convenience, revenue growth, and or cost reductions.” (web.worldbank.org) Yet I have to ask…what does this all mean???

As we move into an era that is entirely centered around technology and convienience ,do we give up a degree of our personal freedoms; rights to privacy perhaps??? Are we entering in to an age of enlightment and freedom of information and better communication, or are we willingly walking ourselves into a world quite similar to George Orwells 1984??  I do not have the answers to these questions but the course of this blog will explore the possibilities.