This is the “catchy” question I’m posing at a Web of Ideas session tonight at the Berkman, weather permitting. (It’s at 6pm. Details here.)

Here’s what I’m thinking of saying to kick things off.

The Internet is just technology, so, no, of course it can’t save democracy. But technology has certain possibilities, so given how the Internet works and also how we’ve been taking it up, can it help rescue democracy?

Rescue democracy from what? Does democracy need rescuing?

Yes, it does. There are, of coures, many definitions of democracy: A government that gets its authority from the will of the people, a government that lets citizens vote, a government that grants citizens certain equal rights, etc. But I want to take one particular sense of democracy: A government that is ours, where the “we” is all citizens. Our government doesn’t much feel like its ours. Frequently — usually, even — it works for us and our interests. But I venture to say that compared to the Founding generation, our democracy does not feel much like ours any more.

Why might this be?

1. In part it’s the sheer scale of the government. Yikes, it’s a big puppy! And there are so many of us.

2. Corporate lobbies that operate for their own self interest are so influential. Economics is the great unleveler.

3. Governing has become continuous campaigning, and campaigning is marketing. The language and body language of politics is demeaning. It doesn’t feel like us.

So, three questions:

1. Is the Internet well-suited to address any of these problems? How is it addressing them? How might it?

2. Since the Internet is just technology, it can be used for Good or Eeeevil. Will it become just another corrupt and alienating medium?

3. What does a leader look like in a Netty campaign and government? What does a follower look like?

[Tags: politics government berkman]

Categories: Uncategorized dw