In his campaign for New York City Public Advocate, Andrew Rasiej has highlighted the ability of technology - in all its forms, not just wireless Internet access - to empower ordinary citizens and to make government more responsive and more transparent. Technology is not some kind of wonder drug that will make all the ills of society disappear overnight -- we're all a lot more aware of that after the dot-com collapse. Yet, nobody can deny that technology provides some powerful tools to make everyday life easier.

Over at Flickr, Esther Dyson explains why the Andrew Rasiej campaign, which has made technology a centerpiece of the debate over Public Advocate, is so important to the future of New York. Not just to the future of elitist, tech-savvy New Yorkers - but to all New Yorkers:

"His message is much more than WiFi for the People. He wants transparent and responsive government, which should lead to people feeling they *can* make a difference and getting motivated to do so. The Net and broadly available WiFi are just a means to that end. As someone once said, "Your responsibility does not end with complaining." Andrew is taking up the cudgel and trying to prove all that stuff - the empowering Internet, the changing balance of power, citizen involvement - can actually happen not just in Silicon Valley among the elite, but in New York City among real people...."

On September 13, New York will have a choice -- do they want to elect a Public Advocate who favors the status quo -- or do they want to elect a Public Advocate who really gets it?

(photo credit: Esther Dyson)