In case you somehow missed it, Obama this week announced what can only be described as an amazing set of policies aimed at fostering innovation and high technology. All of the big issues are there: net neutrality, government transparency, privacy, next-gen broadband, health care IT, education IT, even immigration. And it's not just the topics. The details are really quite extraordinary, too. Go take a look.
Here's how Matt Stoller, often an Obama skeptic, described it:
Today, Obama is throwing down the gauntlet on a internet freedom, telecom lobbyists, and on opening up government in general to the public. It's some genuinely radical stuff, and it includes the use of blogs, wikis, and openness in government hearings. Significantly, Larry Lessig has endorsed Obama's platform.It's a little difficult to discuss just how significant these proposals are, since we don't have a great frame of reference. Take the Universal Service Fund, and his plan to move the money that is currently subsidizing rural phone service and ensuring that broadband is subsidized as well. High speed broadband is a core tool for citizens to engage politically; it's not an accident that Color of Change emerged in 2006-2007, after massive growth in broadband to African-Americans. Building this network out, as Obama is putting forward, and opening up government could create organizing opportunities the likes of which we haven't dreamed. Imagine the innovative spirit of Silicon Valley combined with the power of government and the movement building organizing capacity of the netroots, and that's a start. Of course, what's possible is not necessarily what will happen, and it's all in the execution, but this is reaching for something bold.
The plan was even good enough to get Lawrence Lessig to endorse Obama's campaign. Stoller is right - this plan has some elements that could potentially transform how our system of government works. It really is that radical.
I'll be honest. A few months back I was really beginning to doubt the man. But he's got me back, big time.
UPDATE: Wired has much more about Obama's day at Google here.
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