How the Internet Enables Direct Democracy - Craig Newmark

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2009/02/25/Craig_Newmark_at_Georgetown_University

Craigslist founder Craig Newmark explains that websites like Craigslist and Wikipedia are ruled by "consent of the governed." He believes democracy is more efficient via the web, which "scales up person-to-person communications...into the millions."

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Craig Newmark, creator of Craigslist.org, speaks to a university audience at Georgetown.

He discusses the role of technology in business. Newmark's lecture is followed by an open Q&A session. -- Georgetown University

Craig Newmark is a senior Web-oriented software engineer, with around twenty-five years of experience (including 18 years at IBM), and has become a leader in online community by virtue of running www.craigslist.org for over 9 years. He's compiled extensive experience evangelizing, leading and building, including work at Bank of America and Charles Schwab. In 1995, Newmark started craigslist which serves as a non-commercial community bulletin board with classifieds and discussion forums. Using a common sense, down-to-earth approach, craigslist strives to make the 'net more personal and authentic, while advocating social responsibility through the promotion of small, non-profit organizations. Newmark's community activities include being on the advisory boards of Climate Theatre and Haight-Ashbury Food Program as well as supporting local writers through Grotto Nights. Newmark has been featured in the Associated Press, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Business Week, Time Magazine, and Esquire Magazine.

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[LasagnaIsGood]

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

[wimscheers]

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

[AIMFILMGROUP]

@Earthlinggb Open source.

[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?

[TheDetoX]

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

[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.