#good4good

Jack D. Squat from Apathy, West Virginia, has announced that he is running against me for Social Media Senator for the Digital District of West Virginia.

1. Wait… you’rerunning for what?

I’m running for the office of Social Media Senator for theDigital District of West Virginia.

No, it’s not a “real” office. West Virginia wasn’t a “real” state before we decided we were going to be on June 20, 1863. But I’m creating this office - by speaking it into existence – to address real issues.

As Social Media Senator, my job will be to aggregate the voices of the people – as expressed in the “digital district” of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social channels – to decision makers in state and national government, and to show the people the results of my “lobbying” efforts through a transparent, social media-driven process.

2. How do you “win”?

In order to win the “election,” I need more “votes” than my opponent, Mr. Squat.  I need at least one vote from every county, and representation from expatriates (native West Virginians currently living outside the state).

3. What is the “point” of your campaign?

The most recent election showed us that West Virginia is ready for a change! I believe nothing is going to change until we change the conversation. The primary goal of my campaign is to leverage the power of social media for civic engagement on a mass scale.

There is a silent majority of West Virginians who care about the future of our state, but believe that they can’t make a difference in the political process. And, in a way, they’re correct. Right now, it’s a full time job to be a good citizen! Most folks don’t have time to go down to the capitol and lobby, or write their representatives about every issue they care about. Furthermore, there’s no channel for citizens to introduce new ideas into the process – we can only say “yes” or “no.”

I want to create an online “digital commons” where people can meet, converse, and express their ideas on issues that impact West Virginia’s future. I will aggregate those ideas, take them to the decision makers in Charleston and Washington, DC, and then use social media to educate the public about what actions their representatives decide to take.  

4. What’s your platform?

I want to bring people together and show them that they have a voice in the political process. The people are tired of black or white, Republican or Democrat, pro this or anti that. I’m for GOOD ideas that move West Virginia forward. With that in mind, I support:

-Technology - increasing access to it, and leveraging it to help people participate in the political process.

-New Industry to revitalize our state’s economy

-Civic Engagement – bringing the process to the people and encouraging ALL West Virginians to make their voices heard

-Human rights, including access to clean and safe drinking water

-Creativity - Art, culture, and innovative new ways forward for our state

5. How will you “take office” after you win?

“Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”