Paul Miller

I put this idea into the 4iP call for ideas but they turned it down (maybe because I’m supposed to be running one of their portfolio investments ) so I thought I’d just put it out there to see if anybody was interested in taking it on or helping out… PartyStarter.org Starting a political party [...]

Not entirely serious but somehow true: Right now all our faith has poured out of the old institutions, and there’s nowhere left to put it. We need new institutions to believe in, and fast. Doesn’t matter what they’re made of. Knit them out of string, wool, anything. Quickly, quickly. Before we start worshipping insects. – [...]

This isn’t really about expenses. What’s going on has been brewing for a long time – it’s a more general disaffection with the structure of politics in the UK and a belief that politicians just aren’t up to the job of taking important decisions. It was only a matter of time before we found a [...]

[This is a slightly adapted version of a short talk I gave at MASS LBP on 10 March 2009 in Toronto, Canada] It feels a bit unfashionable in tumultuous times like these but there’s something you should know about me before we start. I’m an optimist – a practical optimist in that I like making [...]

I went along to see Us Now on Wednesday and I like it a lot – and not just because it’s got me in it! The funny thing about being on camera is that you sometimes come out with things you didn’t know you were going to say. In Us Now I surprised myself when [...]

I haven’t seen it yet (first screening is tomorrow) but there are a few bits of me in a new documentary about government, democracy and technology called Us Now. Here’s the trailer.

What does “yes we can” really mean? Obama’s goal wasn’t simply to win an election, garner votes, or run a great campaign. It was larger and more urgent: to change the world. Bigness of purpose is what separates 20th century and 21st century organizations: yesterday, we built huge corporations to do tiny, incremental things – [...]

Thank you America. I think you might just have changed the way people think about politics.

I’m at BarCampUKGovWeb today about how Government could best use technology and set itself up so that other people can use their data too. Best thing I’ve found out about so far is Farmsubsidy.org. I’ve long thought the CAP is absolutely bonkers, but these guys prove just how crazy (and secretive) the system is.

The guys at Demos (where I used to work and remain an associate) have put together a great little video explaining the idea of ‘everyday democracy’. I keep on meaning to post about the controversy about party funding. More soon…