Your Seat at the Table

I have been following an historic event in the area of public involvement in governmental process. President Elect Obama’s change.gov, it is truly amazing through the power of transparency that I sitting here in Thailand am allowed to participate through comments and intense debate at the same time that the meetings are going on.

Why would someone be interested in these meetings? Simple, we all face the same problems. The financial crisis, rising unemployment, energy crisis, healthcare, recession and education all are problems every country must face.

In the past all of these issues were kept behind closed doors lacking public input and transparency. Transparency is the process that allows real change. The process is called Your Seat at the Table.



Thailand has put into place the beginnings of this process with egov sites for example in paying taxes. Thailand can make available all policy documents from official meetings on policy issues in real time. This can replace archaic tactics of carrying signs on the street, avoiding mob hysteria, three phrases dumbing-down issues and many other social ills.

This is a posted comment that shows how this applies to every country. “This site allows an exchange of information that will help educate and inform the people of our nation to engage and commit to act when and where opportunities are found.”

This will allow our leaders to also formulate and implement policy decisions more quickly as feedback can be gathered from around the world. It is just too hot in Thailand to carry a sign on the street and to allow critical policies decisions to be paralyzed at a time of domestic and global crisis.

Get your seat at the table.