TED: What if you could help decide how the government spends public funds? | Shari Davis

The speaker, a former government employee, discusses the challenges of systemic inequity in democracy and introduces participatory budgeting (PB) as a solution. PB involves community members in decision-making, fostering radical imagination and real solutions. The speaker shares a successful youth-led PB initiative in Boston, highlighting its positive impact. PB has spread globally, improving public health and trust in government. The speaker calls for renewed trust in democracy and encourages bringing PB to more communities.

What does the speaker identify as a major flaw in the original design of democracy?

• It was based on outdated technology.

• It only allowed for the participation of rich white men.

• It was too complex for ordinary people to understand.

• It did not include any form of budgeting.

What is participatory budgeting primarily about, according to the speaker?

• Increasing government revenue

• Improving technology in schools

• Collective radical imagination

• Reducing taxes

In the first year of participatory budgeting in Boston, what was one of the projects funded?

• Renovating historical buildings

• Increasing technology access for students

• Building new schools

• Creating a new public park

What unexpected challenge did the Boston participatory budgeting project face during park renovations?

• Weather-related delays

• Lack of funding

• Discovery of an archaeological site

• Community opposition

How did participatory budgeting impact Malachi Hernandez?

• He became a city mayor

• He was the first in his family to graduate college

• He started a new business

• He moved to another country

What role did Maria Hadden play in the participatory budgeting movement?

• She wrote a book on PB

• She started a new PB initiative in Brazil

• She was a founding board member of a PB project

• She became a city mayor

Which city allocates 5% of its budget for participatory budgeting?

• New York

• Paris

• London

• Tokyo

What has participatory budgeting been shown to improve globally?

• Educational outcomes

• Economic growth

• Public health and trust in government

• Tourism

What does the speaker suggest is necessary for renewing trust in democracy?

• Creating new participatory processes

• Building new government buildings

• Reducing government size

• Increasing taxes

What does the speaker quote Octavia Butler as saying about change?

• Change is unnecessary in a stable society

• Change is difficult and should be avoided

• Change is only for the young

• Change is inevitable and should be embraced