Wow! Somebody sees the way it's going — Andrew Rasiej, running for Public Advocate, NY:
It’s 1:00 o’clock on Wednesday morning and I ought to be writing a dispassionate blog post about New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman’s latest column, which places Andrew front and center among a “new generation of politicians who are waking up” to the new challenges facing America in a “flattened world”; describes the underlying rationale of Andrew’s call for universal Wi-Fi with precision; illustrates how important it is to get the subways wired for cellphones to make 911 calls, especially in the wake of the London bombings; explains why the incumbent telecom companies and their kept politicians can’t be relied upon to bring us these reforms; and concludes by explaining (for the first time that I’ve ever seen on the NYTimes oped page) the power of networks and blogging to revitalize and transform civic and political engagement. Can You Hear Us Now?
I've been thinking of running for high office on a one-issue platform: I promise, if elected, that within four years America will have cellphone service as good as Ghana's. If re-elected, I promise that in eight years America will have cellphone service as good as Japan's, provided Japan agrees not to forge ahead on wireless technology. My campaign bumper sticker: "Can You Hear Me Now?"
I began thinking about this after watching the Japanese use cellphones and laptops to get on the Internet from speeding bullet trains and subways deep underground. But the last straw was when I couldn't get cellphone service while visiting I.B.M.'s headquarters in Armonk, N.Y.
But don't worry - Congress is on the case. It dropped everything last week to pass a bill to protect gun makers from shooting victims' lawsuits. The fact that the U.S. has fallen to 16th in the world in broadband connectivity aroused no interest. Look, I don't even like cellphones, but this is not about gadgets. The world is moving to an Internet-based platform for commerce, education, innovation and entertainment. Wealth and productivity will go to those countries or companies that get more of their innovators, educators, students, workers and suppliers connected to this platform via computers, phones and P.D.A.'s.
A new generation of politicians is waking up to this issue. For instance, Andrew Rasiej is running in New York City's Democratic primary for public advocate on a platform calling for wireless (Wi-Fi) and cellphone Internet access from every home, business and school in the city. If, God forbid, a London-like attack happens in a New York subway, don't trying calling 911. Your phone won't work down there. No wireless infrastructure. This ain't Tokyo, pal. Thomas Friedman, 'Calling all Luddites', NYT
Can you hear me now — Britain? 'The technological model coming next - which Howard Dean accidentally uncovered but never fully developed - will revolve around the power of networks and blogging. The public official or candidate will no longer just be the one who talks to the many or tries to listen to the many. Rather, he or she will be a hub of connectivity for the many to work with the many - creating networks of public advocates to identify and solve problems and get behind politicians who get it. "One elected official by himself can't solve the problems of eight million people," Mr. Rasiej argued, "but eight million people networked together can solve one city's problems.' (Friedman)
via Doc Searls
