There are a few advantages that Greentape will definitely bring to the party. They include:
- More effective democracy – At a regional council and government level, Greentape will mean a more effective democracy. At the moment, we only vote once every three years for our central government officials. All decision-making is taken out of our hands at that point, which means that politicians can do what ever they want for those three years. With Greentape, we will be able to affect change on a daily basis.
Also, currently, a vote at election time does not reference particular issues of governance but a consolidation of all of them. For example – let's say you agree with a party's stance on health and education, so you vote for them. Unfortunately though, in doing so, you are also supporting their public transport initiatives, which unfortunately, in this case, you don't agree with. With Greentape, you will be able to affect change very specifically.
- To look at it from a different angle...Employing a handful of academics, advisors and politicians to come up with great long-term strategies for the future, even if they have the best intentions, is not going to be nearly as effective as using a system like Greentape to employ the brains of many thousands of citizens to decide how to best move forward.
- Potential reduction in civil servant costs – Governments exist to listen to people (the public and advisors) and come up with strategies and social structures based on what they learn. However, if we were to have a system, like Greentape, then most government positions involved in decision-making would become obsolete.
- More sustainable and effective nation-building – People considering everyone, and the long-term future, with their actions.
- More corporate accountability – The actions of large companies and corporations will be open for thorough analysis and public critiquing with Greentape. And those companies will be compelled to respond to this critique to save their public image.
- Creating positive change in the workplace – Within a large organisation, Greentape will be helpful. Bureaucracy can sometimes affect a company in an adverse way the larger it becomes. For a single employee with a good idea, it can sometimes take months for it to be addressed properly by a line manager. Even a whole department of workers with a suggestion on how things could be improved can be railroaded by “company policy” or “budget constraints”.
With Greentape, a suggestion could be made to your boss in front of an audience of thousands – who would all be expecting an appropriate response in return. - Improving trade systems – Many inefficiencies that come with our current 'freemarket' economy could be removed using Greentape, as communication lines between producers and consumers will be more streamlined and honest. We could also greatly reduce the marginalisation of workers' rights and the environment because we would be considering long term ideals.
- Education – Users of Greentape will have the benefit of being exposed to many well thought-out ideas, which would directly relate to their particular interests and/or to where they lived and worked. And this educational process would then feed positively back into Greentape's democratic system – what good is a great democracy if all the citizens are stupid and make stupid decisions?
- Less court costs – The system could help facilitate less court-room action. Some disagreements could be discussed in a public audience, with resolutions reached through consensus and public pressure.
- More motivation re- national direction – People are motivated to work hard on a project if it is their baby, if they have some say in the decision-making process that has created it.
In a similar way, people may be less inclined to break a law if they feel responsible for the defining of that law. Also, as part of the law-making process, you explore the reasons for having that law. Through Greentape, everyone (including those with criminal potential) will be more aware of the adverse effects crime has on people around them and ultimately themselves. - More motivation re- personal direction– People frequently become apathetic, lazy and potentially antisocial if they feel it is too difficult to follow their aspirations. They get disheartened and they don't feel motivated to put in the extra effort to find success. Encouraging people to map out their long-term goals is an empowering start to turning this thinking around. From there, they can gain confidence that they can achieve these goals if they feel like theirs is a voice that will be listened to. Through the act of constructing a vision, making it public and using it to enact change, each user of Greentape will become more motivated to create something of their life.
- More understanding and empathy- Misunderstanding creates a lot of animosity between people and communities. However, through someone's Blueprint, anyone would be able to see what that person is trying to achieve and why they are trying to achieve it.
- Bringing community together– Connections between your neighbours and within your local neighbourhood will be strengthened. Via Greentape, community members will be more aware of what is going on in their neighbourhood. They will have more of an idea of what decisions are being made regarding their community and they will then have a chance to play a part in that decision-making. Also, people will be able to distribute posts specifically to others in their neighbourhood strengthening personal bonds.