The GOP may have taken the airwaves, but we've got the 'Net

[Writer]

Pilfering through articles recently indicates the rise of the online activist. In many ways, the Internet has given Democrats a new breath where otherwise inopportune political circumstances have weakened them.

A little over twenty years ago, the FCC replaced the public interest system long underpinning broadcast radio (and television) with a market-driven model. Hence communication to the highest bidder was born. Conservatives and GOP'ers immediately seized the opportunity to create and syndicate a drove of conservative voices on the airwaves. Congress' inability to codify the Fairness Doctrine in 1987 exacerbated this problem. GOP'ers saw the benefits of a market-driven system and sought to embellish it.

In 2005, liberals and Democratic supporters have seized the Internet. Truly a people's medium, the Internet permits direct communication from author to reader. No middle-man. No filter. Much in the same way the GOP seized the opportunity of a deregulated media, Democrats can and will seize the Internet to spread their own messages. As generations grow with the medium, more will grow to use the Internet - not television nor radio - as their primary source of information.

Already use of the Internet has delivered for Democratic causes. The near win for veteran Paul Hackett in a predominately Republican House district in Ohio demonstrates this.

Yet Democratic voices are somewhat scattered and, as they naturally will be in such a niche medium as the Internet, targeted to small interests.

Perhaps Democratic activists online should look to coordinate their efforts, even more so, under a Democratic banner? Moveon.org, swingstateproject.com and others have made strides in this direction, yet consider how much more powerful the Democratic voice will be if they form an online network that works in unison to retake Congress in the White House?

Democrats have a great power before them, and it is up to them to capitalize upon it.

[noise626]

1. They got the Guns...we got the numbers :)

Sweet!

pax
ant

[emulatorloo]

2. all I see on the net are rightwing blogs and website

well not all, but there are plenty. And why I bet you even some of them are funded by the GOP.

[Writer]

4. And there are many, many liberal sites, as well.

That raise a lot of money for liberal and Democratic causes.

[stillcool]

3. It blows me away....

when i consider how ill informed i've been for most of my life. What you seek on the internet as in life is what you will find.