From Enthusiasm to Stagnation: The Tale of Two Countries Ahead of the OGP19 Summit

Hi all,

Ahead of OGP Summit in a couple of weeks, I wrote this blog about the state of NAP in the UK and Israel. I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas about it!

Mor

The cause/s of stagnation and decline is/are not hard to fathom. It is the natural order when stimuli are absent, in this case, failure to address the nub of the matter, viz decision-making predicated on a structured system that is participative, universally transparent and accountable and always makes the best choice (sic).

At any time, we are all making choices, alone or jointly with others, on a wide range of issues. But none of us has been trained to be sure we always make the best choice, on any subject. Prevarication, indecisiveness, opacity and confusion multiplies when more than one person is involved. Worst of all, it is seldom structured in a way that each participant can clearly focus on each element and express their own views (through a universally understandable ‘language’) thus making the process non-partisan, discrimination-blind and informed. Unity and commitment will ensue because it is all-inclusive; everyone’s ‘voice’ is ‘heard’ and accounted for. In this scenario, perhaps the greatest benefit of all is an all-pervading, powerful yet benign force of transparency. No more powerful governance exists nor one which is so beyond reproach.

Now, if decision-making everywhere is made transparent thereby open to scrutiny, fully-participative and openly accountable, we can all enjoy the politics of consensus wherein the best choice, of all participants is assured. Not the exhausted, tired and conflicting politics we tolerate today. Parties are fragmenting before our eyes discrediting the first past the post principle, not to mention the absence of trust among the populace. Restore participation (both active and passive), reveal transparency and demonstrate full accountability then Open Government might just fly, not stagnate nor decline.

An App has been developed which uniquely and innovatively addresses all the above. It helps both the decision-makers as well as those affected by such decisions to be sure the best choice is always made. Proclaimed by Professors of Decision Theory as “ingeniously simple”, and to be made available free of charge on a website which eschews all commercial influences, there should be few (if any) objections to its implementation. We believe this is the route to democracy incarnate, in every field of activity, not just politics. It should deliver government of the people, by the people, for the people. How more open could government be? We hope this contribution to the cause is constructive and helpful.

Kindest regards

Michael La Costa