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Much of the talk about electronic or e-government centers on new or innovative applications by public agencies that take advantage of the Web and Internet. A good example of this approach is the federal e-government strategy, announced in late February that lists 24 separate initiatives that address citizen and business transactions with federal agencies, as well as interactions among governments at all levels.
A few innovators, however, take a more holistic and assertive approach to e-government, one that recognizes that far-reaching potential of the Internet to transform the relationship between individuals and governments. The making of government policy at any level involves exchanges of information between citizens and elected officials as well as among officials themselves. Often that process involves reaching consensus; at other times officials or government bodies make decisions based solely on the raw exercise of power.
Bill of Rights and Bundle of Reforms
Marc Strassman is one of those people who sees the larger potential of e-government. Strassman, who has a political research and consulting company called Etopia in Los Angeles, has proposed what he calls the California Internet Bill of Rights. Strassman serves as well as contributing editor to NetPulse, published by PoliticsOnline.
Also called the California Internet Bundle of Reforms (or CIBR, same acronym), the proposal has 11 provisions:
1. Smart ID Cards to be issued jointly by Department of Motor Vehicles and Office of the Registrar General, which is hereby established to oversee and provide (either in-house or by out-sourcing) the functionality of a Certificate Authority for the management of the digital certificates and the cards that will hold them.
2. Build a Virtual Legislature platform that will allowing remote convening of the Assembly and the Senate, and all County Boards of Supervisors, City Councils, and all other official elective and appointive bodies
3. Establish a Public Broadband Authority to level the "driving-vs.-surfing" playing field
4. Establish a State Distance Learning Network to increase instructional efficiency
5. Build a Security Portal Network for official collaboration and public notification
6. Build e-government systems that allows citizens do transact all city, county, and state business online
7. Legalize and implement polling-place and remote Internet voting
8. Create and maintain a system for the instantaneous online reporting and viewing of all campaign and other political contributions
9. Legalize and implement Smart Initiatives, so that citizens can sign official initiative petitions online at a site to be maintained by the Secretary of State.
