By all means, let’s use technology to improve government services. But the real promise is greater political accountability.
Science, Tech, Environment
Posted inEducation in America
Using Tech to Improve Government
In the modern digital era, a growing number of individuals and organizations are trying to figure out how to harness technology to improve democracy. I have written previously about the Personal Democracy Forum-an annual conference of civic tech groups in New York City-and while these spaces can certainly give rise to overblown hype (think HBO’s […]
Posted inEnergy and the Environment
Frances Kelsey: The Government Bureaucrat Who May Have Saved Your Life
Kelsey’s crusade for tougher drug regulations remains a powerful symbol of good government.
Posted inWorking in America
How to Live Happily with Robots
It takes extensive government intervention to assure that gains of automation are broadly shared.
Posted inAmerica and the World
Bridging the Digital Divide in Cuba — and Baltimore
Today, at a 500-guest ceremony, the Cuban flag was raised above Washington, D.C., for the first time since the Cold War, as the U.S. and Cuba got the green light to resume diplomatic relations. Since Obama’s announcement last December to reopen embassies, a Cuban-style “perestroika,” has allowed for the arrival of many new technologies to […]
Posted inEnergy and the Environment
The Three Climate Deniers in Congress Whose Districts Will Soon Be Underwater
The Republican representatives of three districts in Louisiana, Maryland, and Virginia that are vulnerable to rising sea level don’t believe 97 percent of climate scientists.
Posted inWorking in America
The Politics of Virtual Reality
With inexpensive immersive media about to hit the market, we need to ask: How will they affect us? And can they be put to good use?
Posted inEnergy and the Environment
Why Surveillance Won’t Prevent Cyber Attacks
A new Senate bill would dramatically expand surveillance to prevent cyber attacks, but real security is about minimizing risk.
Posted inEnergy and the Environment
Are Uber and Lyft Driving Recalled Cars?
While aggressively marketing their services as safe, the ride-sharing giants do not require drivers to repair recalled cars.
Posted inEconomic Policy
Why Civic Tech Can’t Be Neutral
Harnessing the power of technology to make real social change.
