Open discussion tonight: The Net and Democracy
Posted on:: November 3rd, 2004
Just a reminder that you’re invited to an open discussion of the now laughably depressing topic: The Net’s effect on democracy. It’s part of the series I’m doing for the Berkman Center. It’s at 6pm at Baker House, at 1587 Mass Ave, at Harvard Law (map), from 6-7:15, and there’s free pizza.
Maybe I should rephrase the topic: The election is over but the Internet isn’t. Does that matter?
Categories: Uncategorized dw
David, don’t be foolish. This election is one election. We have a chance now to start a real dialog with people, to understand why people voted the way the did, without the pressure of the election in front of us. We can use this as an opportunity to really learn from each other.
People have said they voted because of ‘morality’. Now is the time to try and understand this, to find out what people are really afraid of in this country.
Now is the time to be vigilant, to watch over the actions of our elected leaders in the next four years, and do what we can to ensure that whatever else, we all understand the consequences of the actions they take.
Now is the time to really see where we can take this environment–we’ve barely started, and you want to declare it over?
You can’t lose your hope because Bush has won. because hope comes from within you, it can’t be given or taken away from some outside force.
You have not lost one bit of personal empowerment because the election didn’t go the way you wanted. If anything, who is to say that without all this effort, the election may have been a landslide in favor of Bush?
The power you have resides as much in your resolution, as it does in your fingertips. You’ve only just begun.
Now, kick butt tonight. And every night, when you aren’t giggling over some silly thing you read in a weblog or IRC chat; or exclaiming over a lovely book or poem; or engaging AKMA in a learned dialog based on respect and deep friendship.
It does matter. I think that it’s important to start to figure out what happened and what to do next. Did the Internet and the blogosphere create an echo chamber? Did we hear what we wanted to hear last night? How is this similar to what happened with Howard Dean’s campaign? Similar disappointment. Should there be so much focus on just the Presidential race? How do we get more people involved? There was an effect as lots of communication and organization took place because of it. It’s hard to be upbeat, but I’m trying to think of things to do… we still have an amazing group of people online!
I think what people may have meant by “morality” was that they’re against gay marriage.