The Participation Blog

Not Rocket Surgery

I think we’ve reached the point where it’s pointless to waste time debating whether or not most people have lost faith in institutions and experts. They have. We have. Public engagement will be key for those institutions and experts to re-earn some semblance of credibility, which we all need if we hope to hand off a fully functioning democracy to our kids. And in spite of the fact that we work with and coach and train people in those institutions every day on how to do it – and I guess I shouldn’t be revealing this secret – it just ain’t that hard. Be respectful, dammit! Say what you mean, mean what you say, do what you said you’d do, own your mistakes, be there for people and help them help you.
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