Get Informed with the White House YouTube Channel “Citizen Tube”

A while back I wrote a blog on the best websites to learn about healthcare reform. The websites mentioned were official sites with lots of information from both sides of the political spectrum. But what would be better than hearing it directly from the horse’s mouth? I’m not sure how many American citizens know about the White House-backed YouTube Channel called Citizen Tube. The issues surrounding Healthcare Reform have not gone away and today (Thursday, February 25^th), the White House streamed a live feed of the bipartisan healthcare reform debate.

The debate can also be seen on the usual news media channels, but if you are at work, it is harder to tune in. Many Americans will have headphones on at work, listening to music or talk radio shows as they go through daily tasks. This works very similarly. As I blog, I have the video opened on a tab in my web browser and I am able to hear what is going on. Granted the topic is not exciting, but if you want to get informed, this is a pretty up-to-the–minute and seamless way to do so.

I am pleased that the White House has decided to share this debate with us and that they have given us an official channel to see what is going on. Citizens have access to a bipartisan meeting that promotes transparency and allows them to see what the congressmen, voted in by the people, for the people, are doing in Washington.

While watching, the users on YouTube can submit questions and ideas on healthcare reform as well as get involved in some social networking on the subject. If you log on to http://www.citizentube.com, there is a blog you can visit to read up on what is happening in U.S. politics.

Our government may have some flaws, and our country may have some cracks in the foundation, but I think it is a great idea to utilize a social networking technology like YouTube as a platform for interaction with the average American. Most of us want to see our tax dollars at work and if the government seemed more approachable, I feel like more of us would vote, or feel like we mattered. What do you think? Do you really care what is going on in Washington DC? Or is this a good step in getting Americans informed; besides the ones who watch C-Span informed?

March 1, 2010