Long Island Referendum Cycle: Part Two

We've been advocating a more "dynamic" form of organization on Long Island on this site (and since 1993) with a whole host of interconnected ideas.

So why propose a referendum cycle?

A cycle of referenda on major issues, either one per year or multiple per year, ensures that ideas, information and analysis are continually reviewed, updated and subject to public debate and modification.

This cycle requires, even forces public participation and debate on the issues that govern Long Island.

No issue can be "put on the shelf" for too long. Information is not allowed to get "stale."

"Finger pointing" and the "blame game" will subside as citizens feel more "empowered" and less "dependent" on traditional forms of organization which many believe have not been adequate to address current issues.

More in Part Three.

Please note: This is our 250th post.

Two problems with a common source

"Put simply, the economic model of news gathering – of maintaining costly overseas correspondents and news bureaus, of investigative journalists – is being eviscerated," Moffett wrote. "And it is being eviscerated by the Internet."

"Just how difficult will it be to enact any of the reforms proposed last week by the Lundine commission on efficiency and competitiveness? Answer: Pretty difficult."

The above two stories illustrate pretty well the dilemma we've been exploring over the past year or so (or back to 1993 in fact) and why we've been proposing the "One Long Island" series of projects.

Information gathering and analysis is changing at a rapid rate. We need new dynamic, collaborative and flexible organizations, structures and models to address this new reality.

Accurate timely information/analysis and substantive, sustainable, positive change are virtually impossible without them.

The above two illustrations are certainly not the only areas in need of reform, but they are a large part of what needs to be changed.

The old ways just don't work anymore.

Long Island Meta News Service: Part Three

Setting up the technical aspects of the LIMNS (Long Island MetaNet) is really not too difficult given the widespread availability and relatively inexpensive Web 2.0 and emerging Web 3.0 technologies.

So how to "spread the word" and create a Long Island based media network quickly?

In any organization there are folks who are just natural networkers. They know tons of folks. In fact if we did our own Six Degrees of Separation on Long Island we could probably reach almost every person of influence on Long Island. We want those people. The "meta networkers."

But they are not the only people we want.

I think most "average" folks don't realize the power, influence and good ideas they have. It is often pointed out that Long Island is "divided" by many different "political subdivisions" and this is true.

But we are also divided, among other things, by many different uncoordinated "like minded" organizations doing similar work and by regional media which acts as the "gatekeeper" of what we are permitted to hear, read and see about Long Island.

Fair enough. If you are engaged in a "profit driven" media entity you really have no choice but to make decisions based upon what will "sell."

But what if, through a dynamic, collaborative and flexible structure as the type described in many of the preceding 220 or so posts we allowed not only the "professionals" to shape the news and provide us with information and ideas, but anyone who wished to contribute to this "pan Long Island-ism" in a positive way?

Would it take time to create this new Long Island philosophy?

Of course.

Will it be easy?

Of course not.

But so what? What are the alternatives? More of the same? More of the same voices promoting the same ideas in the same way?

More in Part four.

More on Green Business Acceleration ...

Here is another great site on "Green Business Acceleration."

It contains many additional excellent ideas as well.

Interesting viewing ...

"Sanford Levinson is a heretic in some people's eyes — he has the temerity to suggest that not only is the Constitution not written in stone but that it's actually in some ways quite undemocratic.
Among its flaws; a veto power that allows presidents to stop legislation 95% of the time; a contradiction of the "one person, one vote" principle in the Senate which gives Wyoming, with one-seventieth of the population of California, the same political power... "

Athens on Long Island?

I was watching a show on PBS the other evening on democracy in ancient Athens.

While it was by no means a perfect system, I found the idea of a broader, more inclusive voting system on issues to be interesting and thought that perhaps it could be incorporated into the "One Long Island" project in some way.

I will explore this concept further as time permits.