The argument in favor: Difference between revisions

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*Educated Citizenry   
*Educated Citizenry   
**Citizens have to know what they're missing and what they want in order to demand it of their governments.  Individuals can educate each other faster and more thoroughly using the internet than they could without it.  Though the structure of the internet enables government censorship, individuals can [http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/02/14/access-flickr-iran/ circumvent those controls], enabling other citizens to be educated about things the incumbent government doesn't want them to know.  It's a tit-for-tat that would have never been possible before the internet.  The secret police had only to destroy the printing press, and that was the end of it.  This gives new power to individuals.
**Citizens have to know what they're missing and what they want in order to demand it of their governments.  Individuals can educate each other faster and more thoroughly using the internet than they could without it.  Though the structure of the internet enables government censorship, individuals can [http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/02/14/access-flickr-iran/ circumvent those controls], enabling other citizens to be educated about things the incumbent government doesn't want them to know.  It's a tit-for-tat that would have never been possible before the internet.  The secret police had only to destroy the printing press, and that was the end of it.  This gives new power to individuals.
**As we talked about on 2.13.07, perhaps the most effective way to campaign is by word of mouth.  Individuals with Live Journals are able to "speak to" and perhaps convince grandma all the way across the country.  That kind of discourse is important for a democracy.  We may never know whether or how it changes votes, but it's good that people are talking about it.
**As we talked about on 2.13.07, perhaps the most effective way to campaign is by word of mouth.  Individuals with Live Journals are able to "speak to" and perhaps convince grandma all the way across the country.  That kind of discourse is important for a democracy.  We may never know whether or how it changes votes, but it's good that people are discussing political issues.
***Even if votes aren't changed right away, developing this way of discussing politics helps lay a foundation for a time when it will matter more.  For example, if a big event happens, there will be a network of inter-connected bloggers and their readers to get the "real" story out, mouth to mouth, in a way that people trust.  And it will be a tool for mobilizing people who already care.





Revision as of 21:09, 14 February 2007

The Question

"Resolved: The Internet enables citizens to have a greater voice in politics and is, on balance, already a tremendous force for strengthening participatory democracies around the world." The students on both sides of this debate should use one or more explicit examples of the use of Internet in a campaign (issue or candidacy) to buttress their argument.

Tentative Arguments:

A well-functioning democracy needs:

  • A Strong, Unbiased, Informed Media
    • By aggregating potentially inflammatory/interesting stories, Global Voices raises the likelihood that one of those stories will become viral on the internet, or make the mainstream media. Therefore, GV gives a lone blogger the power to start the momentum that could solve the problem she writes about.
      • The faster a story becomes salient, the sooner those who might be interested in stopping it can act. It's easier to stop human rights abuses when they're still small.
    • In countries without a fair media, bloggers can fill the gap.
  • Fair and Balanced Elections
    • It becomes possible for an outsider candidate without an established political machine to spread his message. (e.g. Yunus)
  • Engaged Citizenry
    • Democracy needs an engaged citizenry. Citizens become engaged when they come to believe there is a serious problem that needs addressing. Seeing is believing. The internet enables single witnesses to 'show' everybody else the truth using firsthand accounts, YouTube videos etc. Liars/bullies/tyrants lose plausible deniability. The citizenry mobilizes against what they now believe is a violation of rights.
  • Educated Citizenry
    • Citizens have to know what they're missing and what they want in order to demand it of their governments. Individuals can educate each other faster and more thoroughly using the internet than they could without it. Though the structure of the internet enables government censorship, individuals can circumvent those controls, enabling other citizens to be educated about things the incumbent government doesn't want them to know. It's a tit-for-tat that would have never been possible before the internet. The secret police had only to destroy the printing press, and that was the end of it. This gives new power to individuals.
    • As we talked about on 2.13.07, perhaps the most effective way to campaign is by word of mouth. Individuals with Live Journals are able to "speak to" and perhaps convince grandma all the way across the country. That kind of discourse is important for a democracy. We may never know whether or how it changes votes, but it's good that people are discussing political issues.
      • Even if votes aren't changed right away, developing this way of discussing politics helps lay a foundation for a time when it will matter more. For example, if a big event happens, there will be a network of inter-connected bloggers and their readers to get the "real" story out, mouth to mouth, in a way that people trust. And it will be a tool for mobilizing people who already care.


Examples to Discuss