Petition The White House RE research publications
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Petition The White House RE research publications
 
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Who knows if it will do any good, but it can't hurt.
https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/#!/petition/require-free-access-over-internet-scientific-journal-articles-arising-taxpayer-funded-research/wDX82FLQ -tj ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org |
Re: Petition The White House RE research publications
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OK... I feel like a lazy, unengaged idiot. I knew there was a
whitehouse.gov and I might have guessed there was even something
like their "We the People" but nearly 4 years into an administration
that I generally like and support (especially in contrast to the
alternative) I'm appalled that I really didn't know of this system
in place.
I'm curious how others here feel about it. Just 4 and then maybe even 20 (think early WWW) years ago all the technorati and unwashed technophilic masses (I think most of us qualify for one or both) were hooting about how the internet was going to lubricate/accelerate/facilitate more direct democracy. Here we are in 2012 and it looks to me like at least this current administration, up to their real motivation and ability to make change and represent the people that elected them (and those who opposed them too!) in the execution of our laws and as a check/balance against the Legislative and Judicial, is trying their darnedest to do just that. "We the People" seems like a righteous attempt to get our input in a vaguely coherent manner. Reading through the open petitions and the responses to ones that were apparently supported enough, I have a mix of pride and confusion. I'm impressed at how coherent and on target 80% are... and amazed at some of the strange outliers... the petition to make Japan acknowledge the "former" name of what they apparently declared to be the Japan Sea in 1928 as "East Sea" and what appears to be a counter-petition to take down a memorial and un-name a street that apparently villianizes (alleged) abuses by the Japanese against women of Korea? It looks like a personal battle between Korean-Americans and Japanese Americans? I'm also surprised by the relatively small numbers of signatures on petitions. 25,000 seems like a low mark for such a high-profile system. (admittedly I was opaque to it until just now myself!). I suppose the "identify yourself" business puts many off (it puts me off a little, but I also don't have a good alternative)... But how could there not be 25,000 Americans with regular internet access poised to hit "endorse" when something as controversial as decriminalizing Marijuana or Same-Sex unions pops up. I'd expect the e-mail and blogosphere to hiss with static seconds after the petition went up. 25,000 signatures on an online system seems like a pretty low measure (not that I think it should be higher, it just seems like a low bar). I'm curious what the other folks here think about this system. I tend to assume that the majority here are either self-identified progressive (if not specifically liberal/democrat) with a modest contingent of radicalish libertarianish folks and a measurable if not overly vocal set of staunch conservatives (card carrying Republicans if not a few Tea Partiers). The choir (most if not all liberal/progressives) are naturally going to hit a harmonious note (I think?) but what about the rest of us? Do we believe in a WhiteHouse soliciting our input directly? Do we think it works? Are there pitfalls? Also, I suppose the Legislative Branch might also have something going on... I should check... they *are* after all the more obvious to petition for changes in *law* if not policy. They are naturally a less coherent bunch than the whitehouse... Thanks to Tom and Owen for highlighting this! - Steve Thanks Tom, just did it. ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org |
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