How the Internet Enables Direct Democracy - Craig Newmark

[TheDetoX]

No form of governance will protect an uneducated mass from a few intellectual elite.

[Earthlinggb]

@TheDetoX Which we have at the moment and which will continue. Even "Direct democracy by internet" - WHO manages it? Remember the Florida voting fraud?

[AIMFILMGROUP]

@Earthlinggb Open source.

[selfruleuk]

TV was just 1-way communication. The People's Administration's reform to Direct Democracy via web and telephone [ MAINSTREAM UK party] is in the next UK general election: PAparty.co.uk

[ironbrock]

Some great words

[Schwayi7]

With the 2012 election coming up, GovTogether is allowing us to have a say through Congress. The power is ours if we take control. Get your votes in and we can truly make a difference!

[alenajsc]

agasg

[RelatedComputer]

Direct democracy is a way towards a more free society.

[ananiasacts]

Why don't we use the period between elections to vet prospective candidates by giving them roles as "issue evangelists" on a site designed to make our political capital more tangible? We need to find ways to make it easier for the electorate to understand the issues that face their leaders, as well as how prospective leaders would deal with them: using the period between elections as a sort of primary where candidates compete by educating us on the issues we face and how they would handle them.

[AdamSmith1759]

Please, less democracy, more markets.

[e105b5]

Direct democracy is something we need now more than ever.

Elections in the UK and US are just an illusion. You can decide on very little. Obama, for example is evidence of this. I realise people are dumb but people are not evil. People would not allow themselves to be taken from the streets for no reason with no warning and no trial to be tortured indefinetely. Then when they are to be released they commit suicide in impossible ways. The patriot act and UK version never had over 50% approval.

[Watchdawg]

The more I explore on the Internet, the more I realize how much the aims of The Venus Project is so much smarter than any of the other "solutions".

[vortical911]

I agree with Craig Newmark, but it seems most people are overlooking the danger of a modern Direct Democracy (via the Internet) that he alluded to in this video -- that on the internet people are more 'detached' from reality. If our culture becomes more logically-oriented (as opposed to belief-oriented), I think a direct democracy will become a more viable option. Also, though, let's not forget the dangers of data hijacking, corruption, etc. Ie. E-Voting is prone to security holes & flaws.

[3108711289]

u mean detached from reality just like someone who reads a lot of books or watches TV? if u spend 2 hrs on the net every day u r much more in touch with reality because U control info. BTW soon all info will be nano encrypted which will make it virtually unhackable.

[rockhuddy]

Direct democracy is simply tyranny of the majority, where 51% of the voters can impose whatever they want on the other 49%. For example, they could decide to end freedom of speech, or re-institute slavery. That's why we need laws (a constitution) to limit the power of the state, to guarantee the protection of the minority.

[LasagnaIsGood]

having 51% of the population agree on something is better then having a couple hundred, well that's just my opinion.

[3108711289]

u can have d demo WITH a constitution duuuh

[martinvaxjo]

Maybe dd is the cure?

"As [representative] democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land [USA]will reach their hearts desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."

/ Henry Louis Mencken, The Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26, 1920

[bluegrrl70]

isn't craigslist under fire for the insane amount of prostitution that it facilitates?

[ArgoSG]

Logical fallacy.

[bluegrrl70]

how so? and pertaining to what?

[xkeltoix]

does this guy think the founders wanted a democracy? they hated democracy. which is why were a republic

[lagnobob]

LMAO, read the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution. Idiot.

[xkeltoix]

I did, and they dont like democracy. Were a republic look it up stupid

[ErowsRLD]

And I hate the founders. They were nothing but money grubbing capitalist pigs. The founding forefathers are the reason why we have a system that is ruled by the rich. Having a representative democracy where the means of production are privitally owned is a terrible system and should be abolished and replaced with Direct Democracy where the workers (people) own the means of production. Not only should the people rule they should govern too, not elect someone who is going to represent them.

[xkeltoix]

The reason were ruled by the rich is because the government was taken away from its original intent.

Capitalism is the only system where the individual matters. Democracy is evil because you can easily vote away your rights. If 51% of the population is christian, chances are you will be too, through force.

Ben Franklin said it best, democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting whats for dinner.

Check out Xomniverse and Thorsmitersaw on youtube for in depth explainations of capitalism

[BunyPunter]

This guy doesn't do many observations. It's all to political to accomplish anything.Hell AOL has been hijacked by the taliban....I mean Conservative. :p

[ReligiousFiction]

Interesting. There really is a different kind of power in being able to have 'grass roots' movements spread to hundreds of thousands, rather than hundreds or thousands. Of course, internet politics still excludes those who don't have access to computers or internet.

[eliseannville]

Problem is it too easily turns into SPAM and gets deleted as citizens get overwhelmed with causes.

[humanist7117]

Obama understands this.

[WhoRonPaul]

mankind doesn't know how to stay honest

[numbah1pinoy]

What is that thing on his nose? Is it a nose ring?

[phfrankh]

think he's trying to grow a moustache or maybe,left over lunch...()-:) It is a bit distracting though.

[wimscheers]

40 years ago somebody could have said the exact same about television. Than Fox came along.

[blackiron60]

If more people used the internet in a constructive way as opposed to watching porn, I have no doubt that it could be a tool of direct democracy.

[merdufer]

apparently that's what ppl do when you give them democracy

[m00kid]

recommended vid :)