Obama = Engagement

December 31st, 2008

Obama inspires by Hugh McLeod.Gapingvoide.com

Obama inspires. Hugh McLeod - gapingvoid.com

What Obama embodies is something different — a networked model of the relations amongst all of us who are involved in the process of transforming American society. The differences between Obama and Clinton have less to do with issues of policy but rather differences in process, in notions of governance, in cultural style, though the subtle differences in policy may reflect differences on these other levels, as when Clinton wants to require everyone to buy health insurance (top-down) and Obama seeks to make insurance accessible to everyone (bottom up). Those of us who are passionate about Obama (and yes, I’m an Obama boy) are responding to an alternative vision of the country — one based less on fragmentation around identity politics or partisan differences than one which values diversity of perspectives as opening up the possibility of refining our collective organization and enabling us to solve problems together which defeat us as individuals.

Writes Henry Jenkins on Barack Obama and I have added my own thoughts on how Communities can Dominate Politics Remember, people embrace what they create.

Industrialisation, was about central control of the few over the many and a very particular type of social engineering. But in a network world, the power is in the network. And Barack and his team has understood that better than anybody, by enabling people to embrace the notion that they could all share a common purpose.

After a presidential election in which voters increasingly went online to mobilize others and take part in the political debate, many of those who were active during the campaign expect to remain engaged with the incoming Obama Administration and mobilize others in support of his agenda, says the Pew research Centre

As JKF famously said in June 1963

So, let us not be blind to our differences – but lets us direct our attention to our common interests and to means by which those differences can be resolved. And if we cannot end our differences now, at least we can help help make the world safe for diversity. For in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children’s future. And, we are all mortal.

The Pew Research Centre has conducted a survey on the enduring legacy of Barack’s all for one and one for all approach to his presidency – Its key findings on an “engaged electorate” are…

62% of Obama voters expect that they will encourage others to support the new administration’s policies during the upcoming year. 48% of these expect to do so in person, 25% expect to do so over the phone, and 16% expect to promote the new President’s agenda to others on the internet.
Among Obama voters who were involved online during the campaign, 25% say they plan to mobilize support for the administration’s policies by using the internet.

Obama supporters also want to remain in the loop as the new administration promotes its legislative agenda: nearly half (46%) of all Obama voters expect to hear directly from the new President or other officials as the incoming administration takes office. McCain voters also expect to hear from their own party in its opposition role—33% of McCain voters expect to stay in touch with the Republican Party or GOP officials moving forward. Still, Democratic voters have especially high hopes for using technology to stay connected with the Obama team:

34% of Obama-supporting email users expect direct email communication from the new administration.
37% of social network site users who support Obama expect to receive SNS updates.
11% of phone texters expect to receive text messages from the new administration.

“The election may be over, but these voters want to hear directly from their leaders and they hope to remain part of the action,” said Aaron Smith, a Research Specialist with the Project and author of the report. “They plan to be in direct contact with the Administration and then carry those conversations back to their fellow citizens. This is a new kind of personal democracy.”

Voters have also been going online since Election Day to keep up to date on the presidential transition process. Among Obama voters who use the internet:

24% have visited a website affiliated with the transition effort.
6% have signed up to receive email updates about the transition or the new administration.
5% have joined or participated in email lists or online groups discussing the new administration.

“Voters have powerful expectations for the new administration, but they aren’t just waiting until inauguration day to get involved with the governing process,” said Smith. “They want to stay informed about transition process, and are working to make sure that their voices are being heard as the Obama team prepares to take office.”

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