Esther Dyson's Flickr photo, and she says:
He's founder of MOUSE, a nonprofit dedicated to getting computers into the hands of New York schoolchildren; now he's running for Public Advocate of New York City.
I was skeptical when he stopped by, but his message is much more than WiFi for the People. He wants transparent and responsive government, which should lead to people feeling they *can* make a difference and getting motivated to do so. The Net and broadly available WiFi are just a means to that end. As someone once said, "Your responsibility does not end with complaining." Andrew is taking up the cudgel and trying to prove all that stuff - the empowering Internet, the changing balance of power, citizen involvement - can actually happen not just in Silicon Valley among the elite, but in New York City among real people....
Andrew's is a long tail campaign (if not a long tale: the election is September 13: next Tuesday). And he's is the long shot candidate here, too. The New York Times didn't make it any easier this morning when it endorsed the incumbent.
On the Op-Ed hand, Times columnist Tom Friedman last month had this to say about Andrew and what his new generation of people-connecting (and -connected) politicians bring to the table. And why we need it. Also, in the 20-20 hindsight of Katrina, why the current generation of politicians and bureaucrats suffers increasingly for lack of it.
Even if you don't live in New York, your connections can make a difference. Here's Britt Blaser:
FLASH: 30,000 votes could swing this thing. Shit! there's 30,000 people in my ZIP code - I could walk a pizza over to any one of them. And if you don't act, it won't happen, because Andrew's campaign has been opposed by the Democratic establishment in this town. Without We the Webizens, he's toast.
Now imagine if the New York City's #2 elected official knew he got elected due to your help, so you were welcome to drop by when you're in town, bring the kids.
Imagine a New York City government that knew the difference between a server and a waiter. Imagine helping Bloomberg get past his view that we must dig up the streets to install Muni WiFi (actual quote!).
If you believe in the values of the blogosphere and can spell HTTP, you want Rasiej to lead this assault on complacent, clueless government. That insight makes you responsible for 3 votes for Andrew Rasiej in the NYC Democratic Primary next Tuesday, September 13. This should easy and fun, because no one you know cares who is the New York City Public Advocate...
Most Netizens know 3 NYC registered Democrats. None of them give a damn who is the Public Advocate, so they'll be happy to vote for Andrew Rasiej if you just tell them it's important to go vote and to pull the Rasiej lever and that doing so qualifies them and you to join the Transition Committee.
One more thing. When you've ID'd your 3 committed voters and know that they know where & when to vote next Tuesday, ID the 3 people like you who can have as much influence on New York City as you. Tell 'em to drop the latté and get busy for, like 20 minutes. Train those 3 how to deliver 3 votes also.
Rinse. Repeat.
More info here. UK politicans, please look and learn.
