changing the public's behavior for public good
In many public agenda-setting and policy passing spaces in every level of government, elected officials and decision makers (community leaders, private sector interest groups, etc.) will try to introduce a policy that requires the public to shift their sense of societal norm. When the government concludes that certain issues are an imminent problem that can affect the mass population, a solution, within the purview of legislation, might be introduced. Now the real interesting thing here are the categories of possible solutions and also how that solution ultimately reflects the politician or decision maker's ideology.
Basically, there are three main types of solutions to any public problem: 1) Create a set of incentives to change people's behavior; 2) place regulations so the appropriate agency can enforce them; and 3) change people's actions through taxation. Which path is the most effective? It depends on the situation, the time, the "norm" of that time, the severity of the problem, and lastly, the politician's values.
The traditional way to approaching any of the said solutions lies in a top-down agenda setting process. In order to get your issue heard, you must have the access to the right people, be at the right place at the right time, and it doesn't hurt to have a few dollars you can spend on a lobbyst.
this is where grooted offers a refreshing take on this model. Why can't we leverage the beauty of modern technology and the creativity of the young leadership to reverse this process? One possible rebuttal is that it will take too long to get anything done. Cultural revolutions and societal norms can change through slow and patient chain of reactions but the top-down advocates may argue that in urgent situations, the grooted way will not suffice.
Ten years ago, this argument might have had some teeth but now, especially amidst our ingrained way of maximizing technology to be efficient and effective, the grooted-groundUP way is not only the democratic way of resolving issues but also a more powerful and sustainable way of effecting true change.
what do you think??