Digital New Deal: Now the Real Work Begins

by Gradon on November 5, 2008 · 11 comments

in change,life,Twitter

Last night, history happened. America, in an overwhelming gesture of support, voted in Barack Obama as our next President.

One of the things that struck me as most amazing about his victory was to the degree to which it proved to be our victory.

It’s been a long time since a candidate united people the way Obama has. And the way he united people — using the tools of social media — is just as amazing.

Over nearly 22 months, the Obama campaign has used technology — Email, SMS, Facebook, Twitter — to build a database of millions of ordinary Americans… Americans that were excited and willing to help make a difference.

And are still excited and willing to help.

This morning, Christopher Penn tweeted something that got me thinking (Not a terribly rare thing: this financial guru spouts wisdom on the regular):

cspenn 300x119 Digital New Deal: Now the Real Work Begins

I thought about what this could mean for our country… to have millions of people working to make America a better place. I envisioned something similar to what our grandparents did 75 years ago to get through the worst economic crisis in the nation’s history — but in the Digital Age.

And so I gave it a name: the Digital New Deal.

Think about it: what if — like FDR controlling road and bridge construction projects from the White House — President Obama could guide a volunteer work force.

An army of helping hands.

Using the connections that he’s already established, (I honestly get more text messages from him than I do from some of my friends) he could mobilize a disaster-recovery team, a clean-up-the-parks team, a let’s-make-this-a-better-country team… all as quickly as he can send a text or an email or a tweet.

I don’t know about you, but I’m proud and excited for what lays ahead for this country like never before.

But it’s going to take work. Long, hard work.

Are you ready to get to work?

  • http://www.hogpath.com/ a10

    i think you are right on and i hope President Obama reads this. technology is truly bringing us together rather than isolating us.

  • http://www.hogpath.com a10

    i think you are right on and i hope President Obama reads this. technology is truly bringing us together rather than isolating us.

  • http://ariwriter.com Ari Herzog

    B-b-but there already is a civic workforce: it’s called AmeriCorps, built during the Clinton Administration and modeled after Boston’s City Year program.

    So here’s one for you, Gradon: Imagine if the AmeriCorps workers are not paid out of government funds (they currently receive a minor stipend) but out of private philanthropic funds and the base of volunteers grows?

    Moreover, why echo Chris and limit this digital new deal idea to Obama supporters? Shouldn’t all Americans, nay, all citizens of the world (most of whom wanted Obama more than McCain) be part of this effort?

    Think global. Think about global warming. Think about poverty. Think about the Axis of Evil; as Lebanese voters head to their polls shortly, they look to the United States which elected a black man and wonder if their ideals are backwards.

    Think about it. Anything is possible.

  • http://www.ariwriter.com Ari Herzog

    B-b-but there already is a civic workforce: it’s called AmeriCorps, built during the Clinton Administration and modeled after Boston’s City Year program.

    So here’s one for you, Gradon: Imagine if the AmeriCorps workers are not paid out of government funds (they currently receive a minor stipend) but out of private philanthropic funds and the base of volunteers grows?

    Moreover, why echo Chris and limit this digital new deal idea to Obama supporters? Shouldn’t all Americans, nay, all citizens of the world (most of whom wanted Obama more than McCain) be part of this effort?

    Think global. Think about global warming. Think about poverty. Think about the Axis of Evil; as Lebanese voters head to their polls shortly, they look to the United States which elected a black man and wonder if their ideals are backwards.

    Think about it. Anything is possible.

  • http://www.socialmediaworx.com/ Ryan Moede

    “Digital New Digital” – great name. I asked a lot of the same questions yesterday on my blog: http://www.socialmediaworx.com/2008/what-happens-to-obamas-online-communities-now/.

    There is incredible opportunity in continuing to inspire a generation to participate in government and in local communities to do great work, and based on the tone of the new http://change.gov/ site, I think we’re headed in the right direction.

  • http://www.socialmediaworx.com Ryan Moede

    “Digital New Digital” – great name. I asked a lot of the same questions yesterday on my blog: http://www.socialmediaworx.com/2008/what-happens-to-obamas-online-communities-now/.

    There is incredible opportunity in continuing to inspire a generation to participate in government and in local communities to do great work, and based on the tone of the new http://change.gov/ site, I think we’re headed in the right direction.

  • http://fly4change.wordpress.com/2008/11/08/obama-online-more-than-social-media/ Obama Online – More than Social Media « SocialButterfly.

    [...] are even calling Obama and the government integration of new media tools through Change.gov the Digital New Deal while others wonder about the extension of the Obama brand and community – post [...]

  • http://www.puyt.nl/2008/11/18/luidt-de-obama-regering-het-internet-tijdperk-in/ Luidt de Obama regering het internet tijdperk in? | Puyt Consultancy

    [...] I envisioned something similar to what our grandparents did 75 years ago to get through the worst economic crisis in the nation’s history — but in the Digital Age. Gradon Tripp And so I gave it a name: the Digital New Deal. Think about it: what if — like FDR controlling road and bridge construction projects from the White House — President Obama could guide a volunteer work force. An army of helping hands. Using the connections that he’s already established, (I honestly get more text messages from him than I do from some of my friends) he could mobilize a disaster-recovery team, a clean-up-the-parks team, a let’s-make-this-a-better-country team… all as quickly as he can send a text or an email or a tweet. Gradon Tripp, Digital New Deal: Now the Real Work Begins — GradonTripp.com [...]

  • http://www.gradontripp.com/2008/12/01/tagged-what-change-will-obama-bring/ GradonTripp.com » Blog Archive » Tagged: What Change Will Obama Bring?

    [...] The day after Barack Obama won the election, I wrote about what I’d like to see. [...]

  • http://pepperdigitalblog.com/?p=400 Obama’s Community of Millions

    [...] As Sam noted in his response to Dustin Bratcher, the launch of this site proves that Obama already had a plan in place to think about how his digital outreach would transition once he won the election, showing that his team was thinking ahead.  More than just having a plan in place, his plan has a purpose.  Obama is trying to mobilize the citizens of America with a call to action which Boston-based social media, technology and design blogger Gradon Tripp calls the Digital New Deal. [...]

  • http://www.alexandrasamuel.com/world/roundup-50-suggestions-for-how-president-elect-obama-can-use-the-internet-to-govern Roundup: 50 suggestions for how President-elect Obama can use the Internet to govern

    [...] I envisioned something similar to what our grandparents did 75 years ago to get through the worst economic crisis in the nation’s history — but in the Digital Age. Gradon Tripp And so I gave it a name: the Digital New Deal. Think about it: what if — like FDR controlling road and bridge construction projects from the White House — President Obama could guide a volunteer work force. An army of helping hands. Using the connections that he’s already established, (I honestly get more text messages from him than I do from some of my friends) he could mobilize a disaster-recovery team, a clean-up-the-parks team, a let’s-make-this-a-better-country team… all as quickly as he can send a text or an email or a tweet. Gradon Tripp, Digital New Deal: Now the Real Work Begins — GradonTripp.com [...]

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