Joe Garafoli over at SFGate just wrote an article along the same lines as my previous post:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/23/MN7214842D.DTL
]]>While he doesn’t come out and say it, the idea of RE-re-thinking politics back in the direction the Founders had envisioned is possible. By providing a medium for the nation to voice itself on each issue rather than prescribing to a party with a slate of platform issues, we have a better potential to move toward a true Democracy (the Founders didn’t exactly relish the idea of political parties).
Assuming things are done correctly, this could greatly enhance the role of the Executive and Legislative branches.
]]>I would say that my ideology is pretty strong and it would take the nomination of a complete anti-candidate to make me change my voting patterns. I sometimes vote for candidates in third parties that are adjacent to my voting pattern.
In addition, and I suspect that I’m among a large crowd who does so, I pretty much look for news, blogs, etc that fit my own views. I don’t have a ton of time, so my blogging is limited to
The term ‘Social’ media may be a slight misnomer (or I am all AFU, as we said in the service) – my impression of social would be more of a conversational setting on a site and the back-and-forth discussion drives the content. Sites like fivethirtyeight.com and crooksandliars.com allow users to make comments on the owners entries, but the main thrust of the site is the article. I also read electoral-vote.com, which is like fivethirtyeight, but not as heavy-hitting in the stats, but Tannenbaum gives a decent, even-handed, and relevant commentary to the day’s events.
Probably the most ‘social’ sites I read are Twitter and Facebook — they both allow you to cut out the unwashed masses and also afford you the luxury of cutting out people whose opinions you don’t share (these groups may or not cross over!). While this is good in that I have an intense dislike for hate speech, I have about four friends who are of the opposite political persuasion who aren’t very vocal, so it also puts me in a friendly pond. This isn’t to say that people in my circles don’t throw the B.S. flag when they see it, but they’re probably going to be more forgiving.
That being said, probably the most important thing about Social Media is that it’s an an evolutionary step for media of enormous significance, probably the resurrection of the Fourth Estate. Any time today’s amazing and brilliant blog is taken over by the corporatocracy, a new indie one will gain relevance to take its place.
]]>Last week on “This American Life”, one of the stories shared was a union guy in PA who learned in talking about the election that one of his long time friends harbored racist views. It really surprised and dismayed him.
Fortunately, I haven’t had the displeasure of contacts saying anything racist. However, I have read plenty of name calling, one dimensional portrayals, and thoughtless comments.
I’ve also lost some contacts after debate nights so I don’t doubt my political musings have affected how some view me as well.
Cheers
]]>