Has the Internet helped Democracy?

Email Print posted by TJD 06/09/2008 11:25:24 AM EST

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The internet is both a source of information and misinformation.  Does this help or hurt Democracy?

I asked this question on LinkedIn, but I thought I would pose it to my fellow TYT posters.  It's non-partisan (at least for now), but as the use of the web rises in politics, I have to wonder how good of a thing it is.  What are your thoughts?
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Is the Internet good for Democracy?
Yes 58%
No 11%
Sometimes 29%

Votes: 17
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Has the Internet helped Democracy? | 6 comments (6 topical, 0 hidden)
Absolutely yes (none / 0)
I can't imagine how misinformed the U.S. would be, and hence making poor voting decisions, without the internet.  As for helping democracy around the world, I'd say the internet has helped there too, but my comments are mostly about the situation here in the U.S.A.

Maybe I'm just paranoid, but it seems to me for the last 30+ years, those on the right have wanted to consolidate complete control over the media, by buying and merging all major media outlets (T.V., radio, and print) and breaking down regulations to limit cross-ownership in different regions, etc.  In my opinion, the only force that has stifled them is the internet.  I firmly believe that the average american would be about as informed as the average Fox News viewer if the internet didn't exist (the other networks would parrot the propaganda, such as the "Syria took all of Iraq's WMDs" story, and nobody would call them on it.)  This is why these same big players in the media are looking for ways to limit or destroy free speech on the internet.

I'm glad Al Gore took the initiative in creating the internet all those years ago.  Without his efforts, it's very likely we'd be seeing the United States in the permanent (or very long term) grip of the radical right.

P.S.
For those who still mock what Al Gore was saying, a very good comparison is Eisenhower's creation of the U.S. highway system-He didn't invent asphalt, dig the ditches, or drive the steamrollers, but he did what was politically necessary to make the creation of the highway system possible.

by twalters0 on 06/09/2008 12:10:47 PM EST

True... (none / 0)
Plenty of misinformation out there...But the facts are also there, as well as the communities that are organized due to the internet.  I feel that the push-back from these organizations has finally counter-balanced the ubiquitous pressure from the right to shove their propaganda down the throats of the American people.  Without the internet to be a watchdog on the mainstream media, I doubt many of them (CNN/ABC/etc.) would be much better than Fox News-Just my gut feeling on the matter though.

by twalters0 on 06/09/2008 01:30:53 PM EST

[ Parent ]
It seems obvious, but... (none / 0)
For all of the information we now have access to, we also have the equal access to disinformation or misinformation.  There are still people out there who think that Obama is a Muslim (Ken?), which was a story that was helped along by bloggers on the internet.  I'm staying away from stating my personal opinion so i don't muddy the waters of this debate, but I wanted to make sure we don't all stick with the obvious.

This is my signature.

by TJD on 06/09/2008 12:20:08 PM EST

good and bad (none / 0)
I agree completely.  The internet is great for providing access to information, but it also requires a finely tuned bullshit sensor.  In additon to opening up communications and acting as a check on the MSM, it allows idologs to associate with only people who share their world view.  The 9/11 truth movement would never have become so powerful if so many folks couldn't all get together and reiforce eachother's paranoid beliefs.  How many people use rush, fox news, and drudge as their only sources of news?  How many people use huffington post and daily kos are their only news sources?  These people never have to have their world view challenged intelligently. 

by alphasigmookie on 06/10/2008 05:18:44 PM EST

[ Parent ]
We must... (none / 0)
prevent the censorship of the internet! It truly is the last bastion of knowledge we have! I fear what could happen if our last outlet for democratic free speech goes away...burr!

Blog: http://perspectivos.blogspo t.com/

by Nick86 on 06/10/2008 12:17:01 AM EST

I think it has been a saving grace (none / 0)
If it wasn't for the Internet the MSM would still taking their talking points from Fox News and we know who tells them what to say.  We still get lied to but it is becoming harder for them to get away with it.   The major networks have started doing some research instead of just repeating talking points because they know we are watching.  We still have a long way top go but it gives us a tool to fight with.

by jdenham on 06/10/2008 01:15:25 AM EST

Has the Internet helped Democracy? | 6 comments (6 topical, 0 hidden)
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