In my similar role in Minnesota elections in years back, I often suggested to the Governor and U.S. Senate campaigns that I provided equal opportunity advice. However, you had to ask to get it. (We hosted online candidate debates so I had an official context to interact with all parties - http://e-democracy.org/e-debates/ - each election.)
If I were working up campaign promises in our niche - and you better have some that demonstrate a real desire for Internet-enhanced government accountability and effective citizen participation - I'd be asking not just Tom, but the whole of the mySociety and other groups and networks for advice in a high profile manner. (Heck, even online.) Steven Clift - http://stevenclift.com Executive Director - http://E-Democracy.Org Donate today: http://e-democracy.org/donate On Tue, Oct 6, 2009 at 11:05 AM, James Cronin <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello, > > I wanted to respond to some of the understandable concerns raised > on this thread as I'm the chair of trustees of UKCOD and a co-founder > of mySociety and it's my job, along with the other trustees, to > ensure that mySociety remains non-partisan. I take this responsibility > very seriously. > > The agenda that mySociety advances and the ideas that we promote > (that enlightened and appropriate use of the Internet, IT and other > communications technologies can deliver game changing benefits to > individuals, societies and their governments) are not and never > have been party political issues. Given the opportunity we have > consistently bored the legs off people of all political persuasions > and parties whether or not they wanted to listen for 6 years now. > > When Tom approached us to let us know that he had been asked to > advise the opposition we were pleased to know that they wanted to > listen, as we were also pleased when Tom had previously been asked > to advise Labour ministers, Downing Street, Parliament and political > parties of different persuasions in this country and others. Tom > has never been party political, but has provided advice freely about > what he knows to people who are interested whatever their politics. > We saw this occasion as no different, and perhaps even leveling. > > Tom has not been asked to and will not be advising the Conservatives > on strategy or policy tactics. He isn't a member of the Conservative > party. He's a technical expert who's been called on to give expert > advice, and that's the same advice as he's already given MPs of all > parties. This is the advice that you'll hear whenever you hear Tom > speak, or if you read his blog, come along to mySociety events or > lurk on our mailing lists. > > Although Tom is doing this in his own time and not through mySociety, > I and the other trustees support him as fully in delivering this > message to the Conservatives as I would in him delivering this > message to anyone. Meanwhile our organisation, and Tom in his day > job, will continue to work with all who share our belief that > technology can make our democracy and government work better. > > Bests, > > J. > > > _______________________________________________ > Mailing list [email protected] > Archive, settings, or unsubscribe: > https://secure.mysociety.org/admin/lists/mailman/listinfo/developers-public > _______________________________________________ Mailing list [email protected] Archive, settings, or unsubscribe: https://secure.mysociety.org/admin/lists/mailman/listinfo/developers-public
