June 5, 2008
Let’s see the vice-sausage being made
Barack Obama has promised to tear down the stone wall and dense bushes with which the current administration has barricaded the White House. Good. Democracy without transparency is at best assumed.
And, Obama has promised to take advantage of our new connective technology — the Internets and all its associated tubeware — to enable a level of citizen participation undreamed of since our population outgrew the local town hall.
So, how about if the campaign starts now by opening up the vice presidential selection process?
Instead of having potential VPs enter through the back door of some undisclosed location, how about if we get to see some of the discussions? Certainly some conversations need to be held in private, but the traditional black box method leads to the impression that it’s all back backroom deals and ulterior motives.
And how about letting us have our say? An online poll would give the false impression that this is up for popular vote. But the VP selection committee should at the least set up a discussion board where we can engage with one another and with the committee.
Why wait? Let the sun shine in now.
