I agree
Voting is Disabled

4 votes

I disagree

Rank2978

Idea#790

This idea is active.
New Strategies and Techniques »

Make Public Conversations Make Sense

Why Is This Idea Important?: It's important for the government to put dollars into the hands of firms dedicated to minority inclusivity and participation. None of the major problems can be mitigated if a majority of those invited to discuss the issues, can not understand the language. We take the KISS approach in minority neighborhoods that I work with. Keep It Simple Stupid! No offense intended.

Minority citizens want to participate in workshops and traingins and scoping sessions, but seldom do ordinary citizens understand the language of "environmental justice", "consensus and capacity building", or even what it means to promote and maintain a civic engagement process for minority citizens. The government can set up an office of minority engagement.

Submitted by donyamaria 2 years ago

Vote Activity Show

Comments (2)

  1. mechwvi said:

    I recommend the "Plain English Campaign" (plainenglish.co.uk) to increase the chances that the documents and Government-speak is eliminated from the process of engagement. Non-native English speakers and those who are semi-literate graduates of our education system (...) are intimidated by high-sounding language which could be kept simple and clear.

    2 years ago
    0
    0
  2. pjwg said:

    The problem is not that ordinary citizens don't understand, they're not stupid. Rather, such terminology really doesn't make sense! It's academic, bureaucrat language designed either to inflate the speaker's ideas above the actual substance or content or to disguise the real intent of the idea. Environmental justice is code for the idea of government controlling all environmental resources. Capacity building revolves around growing the size and reach of government. I love your idea! Make these people say what they mean!

    2 years ago
    0
    0