People Power Government

When People Power Government, by John Carrino:

Like a small business, Government has important and very large decisions to make.  We’re going through some trying times right now where Governments, especially the local Governments, are trying to stretch every nickel in hopes they don’t have to lay off any employees or cut important services.

The question our elected elite need to ask, is how do we make things better, without spending more money?  I enjoy many of the services that in my home town of Nutley, NJ we have that other municipalities just simple don’t have, and the leadership should be commended.

Our small town of Nutley, www.nutleynj.org, has engaged community and volunteers, built groups that look to motivate others through programs, consolidated all services into an online portal that provides more information, access and convenience to all the citizens of Nutley.  Isn’t this the true measure of success of our local leadership?  Opening government to all its citizens?

Have all governments thought about how the Township of Nutley is succeeding?  Citizens care about very few things, but they really want to know when their garbage won’t get picked up, if they can register and pay online for their child’s t-ball team instead of trekking down to town hall, or that if there is an emergency, their town will reach out to them, before they call the police for an update.  It’s about proactive governance.

Has government thought about these factors?  Because they don’t cost more money.  Stuff like:  Family, Friendship, Community, Values, Environment, Achievement, Fulfilling Work, and Well-Being.

And how can government take on improving or customizing their services to fit the above?

Combine the right political philosophy, thinking, with the information revolution, there is an opportunity to remake government and public services that will allow us to achieve by making substantive improvements to well-being.

If you give people more choice, more tools, provide them the power and access and a better sense of control, then you can create a stronger, better society, and combine it with the information we have available, we as a people can remake public service.

Nutley is doing it online for their town and other municipalities should do the same.
Governments need to embrace where we are now.  We are in an information revolution and it costs less.  People power is now possible and it's cheaper than the traditional ways of doing business, sending email is cheaper than sending a letter, uploading a flyer for others to download is cheaper than printing it for the masses, giving citizens more active tools to assist in the government process, cuts down on resources and builds in efficiencies.

The technology has been here.  We are a changed society, the way we shop, travel, and conduct our day to day lives, so why can't government, especially local government, also adopt these services who ultimately answer to the community, catch up?  Other sectors have.  Small businesses live and die on the decisions of managing cash and information.

It ultimately breaks down to these three things:  transparency, greater choice and accountability.  The Township of Nutley understands its people, their needs and developed processes online by which to engage them, assist them and cultivate them.  They recognize that if you go with the grain of human nature, and you can achieve more as a government.

The good news is that we can build a stronger society because we have the best advantage, information.  / john carrino /