As I expected in this tantalizing and ever-advancing Computer Age, one of my most cherished ideas has received a shot in the arm, so to speak, and has emboldened my belief that my original idea has an increased chance of being adopted and becoming a most important function of tomorrow’s federal, state, and local governments.
The shot in the arm has come in the form of a new and exciting service on the Internet called “GotoMeeting.Com,” and it has received daily notice on radio from the gifted commentator, Michael Medved, as well as other radio mainstays and the advertising columns of daily newspapers.
“GotoMeeting.Com” has given Americans the fascinating opportunity of coming together for meetings without the necessity of coming together, as it were. In other words, you or I or any other persons now have the opportunity to gather people together for meetings without leaving their homes. It’s a most intriguing development, and I predict it will become an extremely popular device. It will save on gasoline, too, in this day of soaring gasoline prices!
Now, as to its significance with regard to my idea: In my new book, F! D! F! (Fire! Dammit! Fire!) A Feast of New Ideas, I have detailed a far-reaching program that is related to the “GotoMeeting.Com” function on the Internet. However, in my case, the idea is primarily devoted to lawmakers in Congress, the 50 state legislatures, and city and county councils.
In my book, I have suggested that a special lawmakers’ electronic packet should be developed for use by congressmen, legislators, and council members so that they could stay at home most of the year and travel to Washington, state capitals, and downtown council chambers only for the most important occasions.
The electronic packet I have proposed would include TV and Internet facilities, two-way communication systems and other electronic wonders so that they could “attend” meetings and exchange ideas with other lawmakers, just as they do when they are physically present in Congress, the legislatures, or the council chambers.
In effect, it is a much broader but very similar concept to the one embodied in the “GotoMeeting.Com” program on the Internet. It is easy to see what the various advantages would be with the use by all lawmakers of such an electronic packet at every level of government.
First and foremost, by staying at home most of the year, the lawmakers would be more accessible to their constituents, who would be better able to link their wishes and opinions to their immediate representatives. Wouldn’t it be even more productive if citizens in their home district could “tune in” to each lawmakers’ electronic packet?
Second, consider what a gigantic financial saving these magic packets would be for all the taxpayers! We already know that most members of Congress are flying back and forth from Washington frequently for business purposes or just to be home for a week or a weekend.
Third — and I write this one with tongue in cheek — by keeping lawmakers home most of the year, they would be less likely to engage in what we might call “hanky-panky” in the capitals of the nation or the states. I don’t think it’s necessary for me to go into detail about the nature of “hanky-panky.” All you need do is read your daily newspaper!