Now, I will kindly ask those of you who have just fallen asleep to please wake up.

現在，請那些剛才睡著的人打起精神。（笑聲）

Why is it that the very word "civics" has such a soporific, even a narcoleptic effect has such a soporific, even a narcoleptic effect

為什麼人們一聽到「公民教育」這個名詞就昏昏欲睡， 甚至如患了發作性睡眠病一般？

I think it's because the very word signifies something exceedingly virtuous, exceedingly important, and exceedingly boring.

我想是因為這個名詞象徵著非常崇高的道德，非常重要， 和相當無聊。

Well, I think it's the responsibility of people like us, people who show up for gatherings like this in person or online, in any way we can,

我認為，我們大家，來到這種聚會的人們， 以及在網上觀看的人，有責任以力所能及的任何方式，

to make civics sexy again, as sexy as it was during the American Revolution, as sexy as it was during the Civil Rights Movement.

讓公民教育再度煥發生機，如美國革命時, 或如美國民權運動時期那樣生機勃勃。

And I believe the way we make civics sexy again is to make explicitly about the teaching of power.

我相信讓公民教育再度煥發生機的途徑是明確的落實於關於權力的教育。

The way we do that, I believe,

我認為要實現它，

is at the level of the city.

關鍵是從城市這一層面入手。

This is what I want to talk about today,

這就是今天我想跟大家談論的主题。

and I want to start by defining some terms

我想從解釋一些概念開始，

and then I want to describe the scale

然後我會闡述我們目前

of the problem I think we face

面臨的問題，

and then suggest the ways that I believe cities

進而提出解決辦法，

can be the seat of the solution.

即城市是解決問題的根本。

So let me start with some definitions.

那麼，我們由一些定義開始吧。

By civics, I simply mean the art

所謂公民教育，簡單的說

of being a pro-social, problem-solving contributor

是在一個自主管轄的社區，作為一名關愛社會、

in a self-governing community.

幫忙解決問題的貢獻者的藝術。

Civics is the art of citizenship,

公民教育是身為一個公民的藝術，

what Bill Gates Sr. calls simply

這正是比爾‧蓋茨之父所謂的

showing up for life,

「為生活出席」

and it encompasses three things:

它包含三個方面內容：

a foundation of values,

價值觀的基礎、

an understanding of the systems that make the world go round,

對於讓世界正常運轉的體系的理解、

and a set of skills

以及一套

that allow you to pursue goals

讓你追尋目標

and to have others join in that pursuit.

並讓他人跟隨你的願景的技能。

And that brings me to my definition of power,

這就引到了我對權力的定義，

which is simply this:

一個簡單的定義如下：

the capacity to make others do

讓他人按照你的意願

what you would have them do.

去做事情的能力。

It sounds menacing, doesn't it?

這聽起來有些邪惡，不是嗎？

We don't like to talk about power.

我們從來都不喜歡談論權力，

We find it scary. We find it somehow evil.

我們覺得這個名詞可怕，而且有些邪惡。

We feel uncomfortable naming it.

連去定義它，都會讓我們感覺不自在。

In the culture and mythology of democracy,

在民主的文化和神話裡，

power resides with the people.

權力掌握在人的手裡。

Period. End of story.

句號。就是如此而已！

Any further inquiry not necessary

沒有必要進一步探討權力，

and not really that welcome.

因為它不那麼受歡迎。

Power has a negative moral valence.

權力違背道德價值觀，

It sounds Machiavellian inherently.

而且它本質上就有些權謀術的味道，

It seems inherently evil.

似乎本質上就是邪惡的。

But in fact power is no more inherently good or evil

事實上，權力在本質上不分好壞對錯，

than fire or physics.

就像自然界的火、物理原理那樣，

It just is.

權力只是權力，僅此而已。

And power governs

權力支配著

how any form of government operates,

任何政府運作的所有形式，

whether a democracy or a dictatorship.

不管是民主的政府，或獨裁的政府。

And the problem we face today, here in America in particular,

我們今天面臨的問題，在美國尤甚，

but all around the world,

也是個全球性的問題，

is that far too many people are profoundly illiterate

即太多太多的人

in power —

對權力幾乎一無所知

what it is, who has it,

對於權力是什麼，誰擁有權力，

how it operates, how it flows,

它如何運作，如何流轉，

what part of it is visible, what part of it is not,

權力的哪部分為人所知，哪部分鮮為人知，

why some people have it, why that's compounded.

為何有些人擁有權力，為何權力總是交錯繁雜。

And as a result of this illiteracy,

這種一無所知的結果就是，

those few who do understand

那些極少數了解

how power operates in civic life,

權力是如何在公民生活中運作的人，

those who understand

那些了解

how a bill becomes a law, yes,

如何讓一個法案變成一個法律條文，

but also how a friendship becomes a subsidy,

如何將友誼轉化為財富，

or how a bias becomes a policy,

如何讓一個偏見變成一項政策，

or how a slogan becomes a movement,

或如何讓一個口號發展成一場運動的人，

the people who understand those things

正是了解這些事情的人

wield disproportionate influence,

造成不成比例的影響力，

and they're perfectly happy

而且他們極其樂於

to fill the vacuum created by the ignorance

填補大多數民眾的無知

of the great majority.

造成的空洞。

This is why it is so fundamental for us right now

這就是為什麼

to grab hold of this idea of power

掌握權力的意義並將其大眾化

and to democratize it.

對我們當今這麼重要。

One of the things that is so profoundly exciting

另外有一件令人極度振奮

and challenging about this moment

又極具挑戰性的事情，

is that as a result of this power illiteracy

那就是由於這種對權力一無所知的狀態，

that is so pervasive,

如此廣泛的存在，

there is a concentration

形成了一個

of knowledge, of understanding, of clout.

知識、理解和影響力的集中。

I mean, think about it:

你想想：

How does a friendship become a subsidy?

如何將友誼轉化為財富？

Seamlessly,

非常順暢地，

when a senior government official decides

當一個政府高級官員決定

to leave government and become a lobbyist

辭掉政府的工作，成為一名私有企業的說客，

for a private interest

將他或她的人脈資源

and convert his or her relationships into capital

轉化為他們的新雇主

for their new masters.

的財富。

How does a bias become a policy?

偏見如何轉變為一項政策？

Insidiously, just the way that

不知不覺地，就如同

stop-and-frisk, for instance,

攔截盤查，

became over time a bureaucratic numbers game.

後來變成官僚的數字遊戲。

How does a slogan become a movement?

一個口號如何變成一場運動？

Virally, in the way that the Tea Party, for instance,

如病毒般，就如同

was able to take the "Don't Tread on Me" flag

在美國革命中扛起

from the American Revolution,

「不要踐踏我」的旗幟的茶黨身上。

or how, on the other side,

或者，另一方面，

a band of activists could take a magazine headline,

一群激進分子從刊在雜誌上的頭條，

"Occupy Wall Street,"

「占領華爾街」開始，

and turn that into a global meme and movement.

發展成為一場全球性的運動。

The thing is, though, most people

然而，大多數人

aren't looking for and don't want to see these realities.

並不主動尋找、也不期望看到這些真實現狀。

So much of this ignorance, this civic illiteracy,

所以，這個無知，對公民權力的無知，

is willful.

很大程度上是有意的。

There are some millennials, for instance,

例如一些千禧世代的人們，

who think the whole business is just sordid.

認為整個政界都是肮髒的，

They don't want to have anything to do with politics.

他們不想與政治有任何交集，

They'd rather just opt out

他們甘願退出，

and engage in volunteerism.

而致力於社會志願服務。

There are some techies out there

也有一些極客們

who believe that the cure-all

認為解決一切權力失衡

for any power imbalance or power abuse

或權力濫用的萬能良藥，

is simply more data,

在於更多的數據，

more transparency.

和更大的透明度。

There are some on the left who think power resides

一些左翼人士認為權力

only with corporations,

只掌控在企業手裡，

and some on the right who think power

而右翼人士卻認為權力

resides only with government,

只掌控在政府手裡。

each side blinded by their selective outrage.

他們都被各自選擇性的憤怒蒙蔽了雙眼。

There are the naive who believe that

也有些很天真的人相信，

good things just happen

美好的事情自然會來臨，

and the cynical who believe that bad things just happen,

也有憤世嫉俗的人，相信糟糕的事情注定會發生。

the fortunate and unfortunate unlike

還有那些幸運的或不幸運的人

who think that their lot is simply what they deserve

認為他們的命數已定，

rather than the eminently alterable result

而不是藉由事先安排和

of a prior arrangement, an inherited allocation,

一種權力的繼承分配

of power.

顯然可以改變的。

As a result of all of this creeping fatalism in public life,

由於對於公權力的這種無可救藥的宿命論，

we here, particularly in America today,

尤其在當今的美國，

have depressingly low levels

我們對於

of civic knowledge, civic engagement, participation,

公民知識、公民參與，公民意識

awareness.

知之甚少。

The whole business of politics has been

政界裡裡外外都已

effectively subcontracted out to a band of professionals,

「轉包」給專家、

money people, outreach people,

富豪、圈外人、

message people, research people.

掌握資訊的人、研究人员。

The rest of us are meant to feel like amateurs

剩下的人注定感覺如外行一般，

in the sense of suckers.

是不折不扣的傻瓜。

We become demotivated to learn more

我們變得沒有動力去探究

about how things work.

事情怎樣運作，

We begin to opt out.

我們開始選擇不參與。

Well, this problem, this challenge,

這個問題，這個挑戰，

is a thing that we must now confront,

現在我們必須直視。

and I believe that when you have

我相信，如果你一直冷漠下去，

this kind of disengagement, this willful ignorance,

一直有意地視而不見，

it becomes both a cause and a consequence

這種冷漠就會成為我剛才所說的

of this concentration of opportunity

財富、勢力的聚集的原因和結果，

of wealth and clout that I was describing a moment ago,

造成嚴重的公民不平等。

this profound civic inequality.

這就是為什麼以權力的教育來理解公民教育

This is why it is so important in our time right now

是如此重要、迫在眉睫。

to reimagine civics as the teaching of power.

也許從沒有像在今天

Perhaps it's never been more important

這麼重要過。

at any time in our lifetimes.

如果人們不懂得權力，

If people don't learn power,

人們不覺醒，

if people don't wake up,

如果人們不覺醒，

and they don't wake up,

就會被遺棄。

they get left out.

施展權力的藝術，部分在於

Now, part of the art of practicing power

保持警醒，並有自己的見解，

means being awake and having a voice,

也在於擁有一個可以

but it also is about having an arena

施展決斷力的舞台。

where you can plausibly practice deciding.

所有公民教育的問題都可歸結為這一簡單問題：

All of civics boils down to the simple question

誰來決策？

of who decides,

因此，你必須有一個地方、有一個舞台來施展。

and you have to play that out

這就引到了我今天想強調的第三點，

in a place, in an arena.

當今而言，沒有比城市

And this brings me to the third point that I want to make today,

更適合作為練習施展權力的舞台。

which is simply that there is no better arena

想一下你生活的城市，

in our time for the practicing of power

你來自的城市，

than the city.

想一個你的城市裡日常生活中的問題，

Think about the city where you live,

可以是小事情，

where you're from.

比如路燈應安裝在何處；

Think about a problem in the common life of your city.

或是稍微大一點的事情，

It can be something small,

比如某個圖書館開放時間該延長還是縮短；

like where a street lamp should go,

或是更大的事情，

or something medium like

比如廢棄的海濱是否

which library should have its hours extended or cut,

應改建為高速路或綠化帶，

or maybe something bigger,

或者當地所有的公司

like whether a dilapidated waterfront should be

是否需支付足以生活的工資。

turned into a highway or a greenway,

考慮一下你希望你的城市要做出的改變，

or whether all the businesses in your town

然後考慮你如何實現它，

should be required to pay a living wage.

如何讓它成為現實。

Think about the change that you want in your city,

列出你所在的城市裡

and then think about how you would get it,

所有形式的權力：

how you would make it happen.

金錢，當然了。人，是的。

Take an inventory of all the forms of power

理念、資訊、錯誤的資訊、

that are at play in your city's situation:

武力的威脅、規範的力量，

money, of course, people, yes,

所有形式的權力都在發揮著作用。

ideas, information, misinformation,

現在考慮一下你如何激發

the threat of force, the force of norms.

或調和這些不同形式的權力。

All of these form of power are at play.

這不是《權力的游戲》中

Now think about how you would activate

帝國層面的問題，

or perhaps neutralize these various forms of power.

這是地球上任何地方都

This is not some Game of Thrones

在上演的問題。

empire-level set of questions.

下面我快速地講兩個故事，

These are questions that play out

這兩個故事都來自於近期頭條新聞。

in every single place on the planet.

在科羅拉多州的博爾德，

I'll just tell you quickly about two stories

選民在不久前通過了一項決議，

drawn from recent headlines.

將一個私有的電力公司，

In Boulder, Colorado,

即艾克賽爾能源公司，

voters not too long ago approved a process

轉變為公有制，

to replace the private power company,

不謀利潤，

literally the power company, the electric company Xcel,

而會更多關注氣候變化。

with a publicly owned utility

艾克賽爾公司回擊抵抗，

that would forego profits

目前，它在通過一種投票的方式，

and attend far more to climate change.

試圖干擾或駁回

Well, Xcel fought back,

這次公有化運動。

and Xcel has now put in play a ballot measure

因此推動這項運動的博爾德的積極人士，

that would undermine or undo

現在不得不對抗權力

this municipalization.

來爭取電力。

And so the citizen activists in Boulder who have been pushing this

在塔斯卡盧薩，阿拉巴馬大學，

now literally have to fight the power

校園裡有個組織

in order to fight for power.

聽起來有些邪惡，叫「機器」。

In Tuscaloosa, at the University of Alabama,

其成員多大來自學校白人姐妹會和兄弟會。

there's an organization on campus

數十年來，「機器」控制了

called, kind of menacingly, the Machine,

學生的政府選票。

and it draws from largely white sororities

最近，「機器」

and fraternities on campus,

開始參與到真正的城市政治中。

and for decades, the Machine has dominated

他們主導了

student government elections.

一個前「機器」成員的參選，

Well now, recently, the Machine

讓這位剛畢業的商業掛帥的年輕人

has started to get involved

進入塔斯卡盧薩市教育董事會。

in actual city politics,

如我前面所述，這只是從近期新聞頭條中

and they've engineered the election

隨意摘取的兩個故事。

of a former Machine member,

每天都有類似的數以千計的例子。

a young, pro-business recent graduate

無論你喜不喜歡我剛剛描述的

to the Tuscaloosa city school board.

發生在博爾德和塔斯卡盧薩的事情，

Now, as I say, these are just two examples

你都不得不欣賞

drawn almost at random from the headlines.

他們施展權力的素養

Every day, there are thousands more like them.

和技巧。

And you may like or dislike

你也不得不考慮到並且意識到

the efforts I'm describing here

他們掌握公民權力的一些最基本的問題——

in Boulder or in Tuscaloosa,

目的是什麼、策略是什麼、戰術是什麼、

but you cannot help but admire

戰場是什麼、誰是敵人、誰是戰友？

the power literacy of the players involved,

現在，讓我們回過頭，

their skill.

考慮你的城市中的問題、機會、挑戰，

You cannot help but reckon with and recognize

還有你期望在你的城市中解決的事情

the command they have

或創造的事物。

of the elemental questions

問問你自己，

of civic power —

你是否熟稔這些問題，這些權力的最基本的問題？

what objective, what strategy, what tactics,

你能有效地將你知道的東西付諸實踐，

what is the terrain, who are your enemies,

達到你的目的嗎？

who are your allies?

這對於我們是挑戰，也是機會。

Now I want you to return

在我們如今生活的年代，

to thinking about that problem or that opportunity

即使朝著全球化發展，

or that challenge in your city,

也許正因為全球化進程，

and the thing it was that you want to fix

市民交互影響的程度更深，無一例外，

or create in your city,

尤其在本地。

and ask yourself,

確實，當今的權力正以更快的速度

do you have command of these elemental questions of power?

匯聚到城市。

Could you put into practice effectively

在美國，中央政府囿於黨派之爭，

what it is that you know?

公民的設想、創新力、創造力

This is the challenge and the opportunity for us.

正在當地的圈子中產生，並向外輻射，

We live in a time right now