The Specter of Specter
Saturday, December 2nd, 2006I sent Arlen Specter an email on net neutrality through the SaveTheInternet.com campaign. It was automated. Nothing special — just showing my support.
Here’s what I got back:
[begin email]
Dear Mr. Rosen:
Thank you for contacting my office regarding network neutrality.
I appreciate your taking the time to bring your views on this important matter to my attention. As a United States Senator, it is essential that I be kept fully informed on the issues of concern to my constituents. Be assured that I will keep your thoughts on this issue in mind when the Senate considers this or related issues during the 109th Congress.
Again, thank you for writing. The concerns of my constituents are of great importance to me, and I rely on you and other Pennsylvanians to inform me of your views. Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office or visit my website at http://specter.senate.gov. Thank you again for writing.
Sincerely,
Arlen Specter
[end email]
I highlight this article for two reasons: (1) marketing and (2) transpartisanship (which are two sides of the same coin: namely, the evolution of our species). But for the purposes of this post, let’s keep them separate.
(1). I know that Senator Specter didn’t write this email. “Oh, that’s just how it works. Everyone knows that his staff sends out these emails on his behalf,” the aide rebuts (in the conversation I’m having inside my mind).
“Yes, how authentic, how transparent is that?” I counter. “Just because ‘that’s how it works’ doesn’t mean it can’t — and shouldn’t — be improved. I would have much rather gotten a ‘real’ email, even if it was still a form letter, from you — the person who actually sent it.”
Ultimately, this comes down to trust and transparency: it may be a subtle difference, but it’s substantive. The letter is not in a human voice. It should be. It’s not from the person it claims. It should be. But let’s go beyond the negative and explore the generative.
What if Senator Specter set up a wiki on his website for constituents to discuss and vote on legislation? What if the email said, “Because you’re a citizen, your voice matters–that’s the only way democracy works. And because Senator Specter is a public servant, it’s his duty to listen to you; if he doesn’t know enough about your concern, it’s his duty to find out more. Can you tell us why this issue is so important to you? You can write more at our Citizen Knowledge Base…”
The latter example–the email and the Citizen Knowledge Base–go beyond marketing. (Side note: and it’s also why I place so much importance on net neutrality–we have barely begun to grasp the potential of the internet to improve our democracy). Moving from The concerns of my constituents are of great importance to me…” to “let’s co-create a better democracy, and here’s how” marks a vast departure from ‘politics as usual.’ And it’s a departure we desperately need.
