No question about it, computers, communications, and other technologies are
revolutionizing the lives of all Americans.  But rapid advances in technology
shouldn't be confused with dynamic, technically proficient leadership.  
Technology is a tool that alone can not significantly improve the organizations
that govern us.

Welcome to the Information Age !  Climbing Mt. Everest and want to transmit
realtime EKG data to your cardiologist in New York for stress analysis and
simultaneously discuss his interpretation by phone ?  No problem !  Inspecting
an oil pipeline in the middle of a remote desert and need to send photos to an
engineer in Houston, then review his reply sketches minutes later in the cab of
your air conditioned vehicle ?  The technology is widely available.  Want to
broadcast protest riots in the streets of Jakarta Indonesia around the globe ?  
Your crew can be there tomorrow. But if that's not fast enough, send in the
nearest reporter with a hand held camera-phone and briefcase size transceiver
to beam up live satellite coverage to audiences worldwide, just as CNN did on
Hainan Island during the military P3 spy plane standoff with China.

But upon returning home should you suddenly need to take your child to a
medical specialist for critical care, yet first want to check credentials or obtain a
listing of past malpractice claims and professional reprimands – too bad, the
state “watchdog” agency won't release the data, or worse – may not even
collect it.  Or should you request “public information” from the county sheriff’s
office, like recent crime logs for a community you're considering moving into . . .
forget looking for a website – you'd better get a court order.  Ironically, sheriff's
offices in some states have been the worst violators of open records laws.  
Want to report the reckless truck driver dangerously tailgating a car full of
children next to you ?  Sorry again, the identity and reporting systems are weak
and ineffective – even though the technology is widely available and nearly 5,000
Americans loose their lives every year in truck related crashes !  And last
Thursday’s important town hall meeting while away on business – unless
someone specially recorded it for you, don’t bother asking.

What’s occurring is that technology is rapidly accelerating, while our Systems of
Governance are plodding along - not much faster than decades ago.