What is good governance? | Ben Warner | TEDxJacksonvilleSalon

Summary

The speaker discusses the breakdown of the social contract between citizens and government, emphasizing the importance of effective citizenship and good governance. They highlight low voter turnout as a sign of citizens not fulfilling their part and argue that governance should focus on outcomes rather than political personalities. The speaker calls for citizens to engage and demand accountability from their local governments, advocating for a shift from partisan politics to performance-focused governance.

Takeaways

• 🤔 The concept of government as a social contract is rooted in Greco-Roman democracy and biblical covenants, shaped by the Enlightenment.
• 🔄 There's a perceived breakdown in the social contract between the people and the government, with both parties not fulfilling their responsibilities.
• 🗳️ Effective citizenship involves more than just voting, but current voting trends show a lack of participation at various levels of government.
• 📊 Low voter turnout in national and local elections, as well as primaries, indicates a failure to meet civic duties within the social contract.
• 🌐 The speaker emphasizes the importance of private citizens in shaping democracy, quoting Alexander Walcott and Justice Lewis Brandeis.
• 📚 Jean-Jacques Rousseau's 'The Social Contract' is referenced to highlight the importance of individual concern for the state of the nation.
• 🤝 The speaker calls for increased citizen engagement and a reevaluation of the systems that govern us, suggesting they are designed for the current outcomes.
• 🏛️ Good governance is differentiated from business and nonprofit models, emphasizing the unique role of government in stewardship of public goods and revenues.
• 🚧 Governance is about delivering public services effectively, not about partisan politics, which often distracts from the core issues.
• 🔧 The speaker argues that governance should focus on outcomes and performance, not on personalities or political posturing.
• 🌟 A call to action for citizens to demand accountability from themselves and their local governments, moving towards performance-focused governance.

Q & A

What is the core concept of the speech?

The core concept of the speech is the breakdown of the social contract between the people and the government, and the need for both parties to fulfill their responsibilities to improve governance and effective citizenship.

What is the social contract according to the speaker?

The social contract, as described by the speaker, is a mutually reinforcing agreement between the people and the government, rooted in the ideas of democracy from Greco-Roman traditions and biblical covenants, shaped by the Enlightenment.

What issues are suggested to stem from the breakdown of the social contract?

The speaker suggests that many of the issues seen in headlines across the country stem from a breakdown in the social contract, where either the people or the government are not living up to their responsibilities.

What role does the speaker emphasize for private citizens in the social contract?

The speaker emphasizes the role of private citizens to vote, engage, and hold public officials accountable, as part of their responsibilities in the social contract.

Why is voting considered a basic role of citizens in the social contract?

Voting is considered a basic role of citizens because it is a direct way for citizens to participate in the democratic process and influence the selection of public officials who will govern on their behalf.

What historical figure is quoted to emphasize the importance of private citizens' role in democracy?

Alexander Walcott is quoted to emphasize that democracy is broken because people are not making it work, highlighting the importance of private citizens' role in democracy.

What is the difference between politics and governance according to the speaker?

According to the speaker, politics is about individuals and often involves partisan attacks, while governance is about public officials taking stewardship of the public good, focusing on outcomes, and delivering what the people need.

Why is governance described as being more difficult than ruling?

Governance is described as more difficult than ruling because it involves managing complex systems, ensuring public good, and delivering services to meet the needs of the people, which is not as straightforward as running a business or a nonprofit.

What is the speaker's view on the role of government in comparison to a business or a nonprofit?

The speaker views government as a unique entity that is neither a business nor a nonprofit. While businesses have clear feedback loops like profit, and nonprofits focus on mission outcomes and funders, government's role is to provide services and ensure public good without the influence of partisan politics.

What is the speaker's call to action for citizens?

The speaker's call to action is for citizens to engage more actively in their roles within the social contract, demand accountability from local governments, and shift the focus from politics to performance-focused governance without partisan attacks.

How does the speaker illustrate the impact of a lack of citizen engagement?

The speaker illustrates the impact of a lack of citizen engagement through the story of an elderly woman in an economically distressed neighborhood who feels unsafe and desires functional street lights, showing how low expectations can reflect a broken social contract.