What I have learned RE: Politics and the Digital Age. (random thought)

[Ioo]

In the 90's the net was not really useful, and did not play a strong role in the run up to Clinton... it really hit it's stride in the Bush years. Netroots learned how to work, tools were created. SO MANY people came online and got wrapped up in the governing process... and now that we are here and our guy is in office... not the enemy... we are starting to learn that for the most part, it is all the same. Same shit, same lies, same spin, same pro-corp anti Americans crap... The sad truth in the matter is I am starting to see here and other places that realization setting in, that no matter who we elect we will never get the government we want. That at the end of the day what separates Harry and Mitch is about 2%... the other 98% they agree on...

The net has ruined the illusion of government.

/end random thought

[Javaman]

1. I understand your point but I don't agree...

prior to the net there were news papers. They printed the bullshit politicians spew.

There was no internet during Nixon's time and look what happened to him?

What we lack is responsible reporting.

If anything the internet consolidated the fringe elements of society and suddenly put them on an equal stage with mainstream.

This is why the tea bagging idiots are perceived to be popular. Computers are just tools. However, if you get some motivated moron nut with money connections, suddenly they can become a political force. THAT is what the internet has done.

People think that failin quitter and moron* brought all the "disenchanted" nuts out of the woodwork. Nope. It was the marketing of cheap computers and very easy to create blogs.

Now the crazy guy, that no one paid attention to before, is crazy and now scary, because he now attracts like minded nuts to his crazy causes.

Prior to twitter, facebook, etc, how easy would it have been for the teabagger morons to communicate and gather? Sure they still could have done it, but it would have taken much much much more effort. Now at the touch of a thumb, a flash mob of insanity can be set up at a moments notice.

Yes it works both ways. It's a tool for good but it also and apparently more so, be a tool for blatant stupidity.