Big Fan of The Electronic Town Hall
Over the past few months, I’ve seen several local elected officials engaging with the public through social media — not just some faux survey or pimping a fundraiser, but actually seeking substantive input on policy questions. I’m thinking of two school board members in particular. Debbie Rose authored a Facebook post on Spanish language in elementary schools, and Bill Fox in this forum kicked off a discussion of school safety. Both, I thought, were very effective means of engaging directly with the public, and at least as effective as an old-style town hall meeting. In fact, probably more. Think about it. The electronic forum is quicker, more interactive, easier to organize and likely more candid given the ability to provide pseudonymous feedback.
In short, social media provides a great tool for those policy makers actually interested in what their constituents think, and they should not be afraid to use it liberally.
I think it is very effective. Timeless in a way. The “meeting” could go on for days. Reaches more people than a couple our static time frame of an in person townhall meeting. Also, always for follow-up questions and a back and forth.
Not to say I’d want the face to face stuff not to occur, the electronic version seems to be an occasional alternative to me.
I am sure after Fox saw the outcry about his idea of guns in school he back down from it. I think he also learned that we already have cops with guns in schools, which he didn’t know before the dialog.
The sad part was, so many people crucified Fox for mentioning the idea at all. What are elected officials for if not to propose ideas for consideration? I hope it won’t discourage him from further commenting.
The saddest part is no one commented on my very clever photoshopping that put an iPhone in the man’s pocket.