Thoughts and comments on Eric Sterling's Djangocon Keynote. Wonder if Branch will work for this?

coolest slide transitions i've ever seen

"Do you want to influence the decisions, or take them over?"

Using a speeding ticket as the gateway to political engagement. It's many people's first time to think critically of how laws and regulations are put in place.

Great point that participation in politics reflects passions. I think awareness of issues and decisions that need to be made is a major driver of creating passion around those issues.

"If the people with the motives don't mobilize, those with the access will."

“Politicians are keenly interested in what their voters think. If the voters say nothing, it's the contributors with the power.”

our collective cynicism will destroy us all :(

but our collective cynicism is a result of how constantly the political process is subverted. Sensationalism like naming things "cop killer bullets" is part of the problem.

This is an interesting talk to a political wonk like myself. I'm curious on the tie-in to tech, however. Hope he gets there.

I'm waiting for the shout-out to the Sunlight Foundation and their Congressional APIs.

Tie-in: Drugs were outlawed in the 80s/90s because of a lack of engagement. Today that wouldn't happen because of engagement of those keeping an eye on what's happening in politics. Technologists need to continue ramping up the tools that make that easier to do.

"Knowledge is power. You folks (the attendees) have the power to give access to that knowledge."

"What are the areas where you can expose the hidden facts."

Technologist challenge: what are the areas with hidden facts that expose the government is not working properly. So many cases where people do not know what the government is doing.

Question: "Does SOPA and company represent a trend in how political action can be taken?" Answer: "Yes, it represents very much a trend."

"Sending a political message is sometimes a cover for getting information about you."

Question: "I heard a lot of "how to direct government power to do what we want," but what I want is to be left alone. How do I get government to do that?"

Forcing government to restrain itself requires “eternal vigilance” (Thomas Jefferson).

Q: "how do we encourage restraint in the political process"
A: <speechless/>

Q Starts Off: I think it's wonder to see a technology conference start off with a bit of politics. Twitter disagrees.

Question about how bleak the political future is. Answer: "I think you're right, but my job as a keynote speaker is to be optimistic."

For one of the catch-all ways that the Constitution can justify just about anything, check out the General Welfare clause.

Why'd [Eric Sterling] give up his job on the Hill? "My bullshit meter broken"