[FC-discuss] Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For Free Culture…

[FreeCulture.org - Students for Free Culture]

Writes Kevin Donovan on our blog:

As you undoubtedly know, President Obama has led an unprecedented era of
openness in American governance, and although [the record is mixed][1],
there is much reason for hope. One of the more interesting examples of
participatory government that has emerged has been the crowdsourcing of
citizen input during the transistion period where Americans could submit
feedback for the newly elected administration and others could vote for
their favorites.

Now, the Office of Public Enagagement has [published a PDF of the top
suggestions][2] (also available [online][3]). It provides a zeitgeist of
sorts for the American public, and, excitingly, many of the topics are
related to our work at Students for Free Culture. 

A couple commenters desired increased access to knowledge (A2K):

> _Libraries of all types need our support, 10810 points_

>

> “The library connects us with the insight and knowledge, painfully
extracted from Nature, of thegreatest minds that ever were, with the
best teachers, drawn from the entire planet and from allour history, to
instruct us without tiring, and to inspire us to make our own
contribution to thecollective knowledge of the human species. I think
the health of our civilization, the depth ofour awareness about the
underpinnings of our culture and our concern for the future can all
betested by how well we support our libraries.” ~Carl Sagan, Cosmos

>

> Carl said it best. Please continue and expand upon the support
provided to libraries of all types.

>

> - NJ Busch

and

> _Create an online E-Library, 8100 points_

>

> Start a program scanning the library of congress into an online
library where it can be accessed for free. It would make it so much
easier and cheaper for public/ school libraries to offer the people they
serve quality access to knowledge. Going hand in hand with the plan
already in place to drastically expand broadband lines and invest in
21st century schools, this would do much to improve American education
while making it more cost effective. It would also save money and the
enviornement by reducing the amount of paper purchased by the government
when stocking multiple libraries with the same books.

>

> - Kevin J. Kauth

While others pointed to the need for supporting innovation and
creativity:

> _Focus on the Art and Creativity, 12970 points_

>

> It is always the arts that are first to be cut back in our schools and
communities, yet the arts are

>

> at the very center of creativity. This is where creative skills are
born, not just for artists and musicians, but for scientists, engineers,
researchers, innovators, and all thinking peoples. Now, if ever, is the
time when we need creative thought and creative action to find the means
and the human energy and spirit to find our way out of the problems that
face us.

>

> - Maples

and

> _Expand Small Business Innovation Programs, 6550 points_

>

> The [Small Business Innovation Research][4] (SBIR) program has been
providing near-term growth with long-term benefits for many years now.
It is an established yet dynamic program created and administered by the
federal government. 

>

> Because the program administration and guidelines are already in
place, an expansion of the program could be accomplished almost
overnight, perhaps by merely generalizing a previous Executive Order
(for example, 13329).

>

> - Next Generation

Others encouraged more technology-enabled transparency:

> _people talking to government, 41740 points_

>

> One of the problems with politcs is that the people’s voice isn’t
heard. This website is amazing! Please expand this so that people can
vote on things that congress votes on. This will show congress what the
constituants want. You can have the people vote on items and then
show how their congress people voted on the same issue. It’s been too
long that a small, disconected group of people control the lives of the
US population. The American people have NOT stood up. Expand this
website so that the people’s voice can be heard again. Great job with
change.gov.

>

> WE WANT MORE!

>

> - aDAM

and

> _Honesty and Transparency, 45610 points_

>

> Whatever the issue -- economy, energy, forgein policy, health care,
homeland security, or other - it is most important that honesty and
transparency guide the debate. In communicating with the American
people, the President and his representatives must remain true to the
principles of honesty and transparency.

>

> - GeneL

and

> _Vote and debate all bills online and show what industries contribute
the most to each Representatives campaign, 40080 points_

>

> Vote and debate all bills online and show what industries contribute
the most to each Representatives campaign while they are voting. Let’s
show the American people who really run the country!

>

> - JimBO

Some people called for the government to provide for open technological
platforms:

> _National WiFi, 23540 points_

>

> Internet access in the new emerging world and culture needs to be a
right and not a privilage. Those who cannot afford broadband access will
be left behind dispreportionately. Broadband Internet Access needs to be
avalible to all Americans and most especially to those who can’t
afford it. Let’s make this a priority.Further National WiFi access will
broaden new business opportunities in a new emerging economy. Americans
could have cell phones that have no service fees, internet access at any
location and the ability to be in contact with anyone or anything
instantly. The possibilites are endless.

>

> - Jesse E

and

> _Restore Net Neutrality Protections to the Internet, 46220 points_

>

> During the campaign, Barack Obama pledged to “take a backseat to no
one in my commitment to Net Neutrality” and to “protect the Internet’s
traditional openness to innovation and creativity and ensure that it
remains a platform for free speech and innovation that will revitalize
our democracy.” The administration can show it’s commitment by working
with the new Congress and FCC to pass laws that make Net Neutrality the
cornerstone to protecting innovation, free speech and choice on the
Internet.

>

> - TimKarr

Finally, many people recognized the need to protect civil liberties,
such as privacy:

> _Find a Balance Between US Security and Civil Liberties, 15660 points_

>

> With the reversal of many civil liberties by the Bush administration
in the past eight years in the name of Terrorism, we need to find a
balance between protecting our country without giving up our cherished
rights as American Citizens. I am hoping a balance can be met without
giving agencies carte blanche and no oversight.

>

> - Admiralu

There are certainly points for disagreement on the particulars of these
proposals, but as a general impression of the importance and widespread
interest in the topics that matter to Students for Free Culture, this is
an encouraging sign that the tides of public opinion are recognizing the
importance of innovation, transparency, civil liberties and the role
that technology can have in promoting those.

Now, it would seem, the question is what can Free Culture do for your
country?

   [1]: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/05/11/grading_whitehous
egov_round_tw.html

   [2]: http://www.whitehouse.gov/asset.aspx?AssetId=1580

   [3]: http://www.whitehouse.gov/ope/

   [4]: http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/sbir/

URL: http://freeculture.org/blog/2009/05/12/ask-not-what-your-country-can-do-for-free-culture/