1. Presentation by Steven Clift, http://www.publicus.net Copyright 1999 The wired Agora. Minneapolis, the Internet, citizen participation, and squirrels?

2. Presentation by Steven Clift, http://www.publicus.net Copyright 1999 Says Who? The most democratizing aspect of the Internet is the ability for people to organize and communicate in groups. Steven Clift from Democracy is Online article in, OnTheInternet, April 1998 Online at: http://www.e-democracy.org/do

3. Presentation by Steven Clift, http://www.publicus.net Copyright 1999 Crisis in Politics Government/ Politicians Voters/ Citizens Disconnected View 1 Government/ Politicians Citizens 1 Citizens Disconnected from Each Other My View Citizens 2 Citizens x Citizens 500 Citizen Special Interests Dominate

4. Presentation by Steven Clift, http://www.publicus.net Copyright 1999 Wired Government Government/ Politicians Institutions Wired Citizens 1 Citizens Disconnected within Geographical Area/Democracy Citizens Semi-Wired Islands Citizens 2 Citizens x Citizens 500 Interconnected Major Flows minor

5. Presentation by Steven Clift, http://www.publicus.net Copyright 1999 Wired Citizens Government/ Politicians Citizens 1 Citizens Reconnected with each other within Geographical Area/Democracy Wired Citizens Citizens 2 Citizens x Citizens 500 ? Something is still missing Wired Government

6. Presentation by Steven Clift, http://www.publicus.net Copyright 1999 Interactive Public Commons An Agora online! Wired Democracy Government/ Politicians Citizens 1 Citizens 2 Citizens x Citizens 500 An example next.

7. Presentation by Steven Clift, http://www.publicus.net Copyright 1999 What do you mean? Improving democratic participation online. An example from Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

8. Presentation by Steven Clift, http://www.publicus.net Copyright 1999 They look innocent.

9. Presentation by Steven Clift, http://www.publicus.net Copyright 1999 Minneapolis Issues Forum MPLS-ISSUES is an e-mail announcement and discussion forum on public issues in Minneapolis. - Launched in June 1998, Like MN-POLITICS from 94 - 200 Participants - Direct subscribers - http://www.e-democracy.org/mpls-issues - Sponsored by Minnesota E-Democracy and the Minneapolis Telecommunications Network

10. Presentation by Steven Clift, http://www.publicus.net Copyright 1999 My message. From: "Steven Clift" To:Multiple recipients of list Subject: Squirrels Attack It seems that about once a day a squirrel runs across my window screen in my home office. I have never experienced this nor seen so many squirrels in Minneapolis. Here is my public policy question - are squirrels in such density ever considered a public health risk? Last winter one came down the chimney and we managed to shoo it down the stairs and out the door (once we got it out of the fireplace after three days!). Who should you contact with the city? if problem occur this winter? :-), Steven Clift

11. Presentation by Steven Clift, http://www.publicus.net Copyright 1999 Re: SQUIRRELS ATTACK!!!

12. Presentation by Steven Clift, http://www.publicus.net Copyright 1999 Where it went… via MPLS- ISSUES City Hall Secondary Networks Animal Control External Networks Local Media Political Party Reporter Citizen #1 Governors Staff Citizen #2 Candidate Researcher Local Official Legislative Staff Student List Manager Citizen #200 Crazy Person 200+200+ MPLS-ISSUES E-List Server Holds Addresses Messages Sent to 200 Directly Copy sent to WWW Archive Direct Receivers/ Senders User subscribes once Commitment made May post via e-mail

13. Presentation by Steven Clift, http://www.publicus.net Copyright 1999 Eavesdropping on the electronic neighborhood... From Southwest Journal newspaper by Martiga Lohn Most days, mpls-issues is a substantive discussion of important public policy issues… However …here are a few excerpts from this burning issue >Go to hardware store…buy trap…set track…kill squirrel. End of public policy question. >Grab a trap and KILL the squirrel????????? Why must we destroy a living thing as a solution? >Rocky and his friends are out of control. … If you want evidence, try to eat a sandwich on a bench in Loring Park. >Quit telling people to move their nasty attack squirrels to wooded areas (i.e., Minneapolis parks) we already have our fair share. >I ran on an anti-squirrel platform for Student Legislature at Syracuse University in my freshman year in college. I promised to eradicate the nuisance squirrel population. It was my first election loss.

14. Presentation by Steven Clift, http://www.publicus.net Copyright 1999 The big discussion. Sparked media interest. St. Paul Pioneer Press calls. We understand you are an expert on squirrels. We are doing a story. Government calls. City Animal Control Division asks, We hear you are having a problem with squirrels.

15. Presentation by Steven Clift, http://www.publicus.net Copyright 1999 Beyond Squirrels Postings to MPLS-ISSUES are helping set the public agenda in Minneapolis. Some postings may be influencing government decision-making. This is very, very unusual. Recruitment, guidelines, facilitation.

16. Presentation by Steven Clift, http://www.publicus.net Copyright 1999 More examples. Target store downtown - posts read at council meeting Cable modems - discussion about information infrastructure Save 612 - electronic petition, council resolution to state PUC Hennepin County - special election online debate

17. Presentation by Steven Clift, http://www.publicus.net Copyright 1999 Learn more. Visit Minnesota E-Democracy: http://www.e-democracy.org Check out St. Paul Issues Forum Join MPLS-ISSUES to develop ideas for your own community. Send an e-mail to: listproc@mtn.org In the message body, write: sub mpls-issues Your Name

18. Presentation by Steven Clift, http://www.publicus.net Copyright 1999 Conclusion Every community from your local neighborhood up through cities, counties, states, even countries should have an active and dynamic online public sphere for citizen-to- citizen and citizen-government discussions.