Obama Creates Cabinet Post for Commons

In a policy shift, Administration highlights importance of equity, environment and public spaces

In a White House speech yesterday, Obama stressed the importance of public spaces, net neutrality, free access to information, economic equity, social justice for native peoples and maintaining environmental quality for future generations. (Photo by TalkNewsMedia under a Creative Commons license.)

APRIL 1, 2011—In a surprise move today, President Obama announced the creation of a new cabinet-level post to oversee protection of public spaces and and other elements of the commons.

Obama explained that the commons is an old word with an increasingly new meaning— “All that belongs to all of us.” The president went on to say, “We have plenty of government agencies looking out for the health and maintenance of private property in our market economy, but we are not doing enough to safeguard what we all own together.”

He added, “Through the first two years of my presidency— faced with a sputtering economy and vehement attacks from the right-wing— I have at times strayed from the original intentions I held when I sought this office. But I promise you that the spirit of ‘Yes, We Can’ is back! If America is to thrive, we need to shift from a reflexive dependence on “ME” and restore a stronger sense of “WE”.

The new position will be called The National Commons and Public Space Advisor, which like the post of National Security Advisor cuts across a number of federal departments to protect our nation’s vital interests, including the National Park Service, Federal Communications Commission, NASA, EPA, National Institutes of Health, National Labor Relations Board, National Endowment for the Arts, Department of Justice, and many more.

Washington is now abuzz with speculation about the appointment, which is expected next week. Sources close to the Administration say that Harriet Barlow, a veteran public interest advocate and co-founder of On the Commons, is a shoo-in. But names discussed in the barrooms of Capitol Hill, DuPont Circle and U Street include: Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer, Harvard Law Professor Lawrence Lessig, Children’s Defense Fund founder Marian Wright Edelman and Lottie Spady, an environmental community organizer from Detroit.

FROM THE SPECIAL APRIL FOOLS EDITION OF ON THE COMMONS