View Story | 59 comments
Comments: Expand Shrink Hide (Always) | Indented Flat (Always)
Stop McCain and the GOP. Support Barack Obama and the DNC.
by DaveV on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 06:28:01 AM PDT
http://www.prospect.org/...
an understated key to Obama's people-powered politics.
Sí Se Puede Cambiar
by pontechango on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 06:46:51 AM PDT
[ Parent ]
After all, this election is not about Obama, it is about US! Or better yet, ME! Me and us, or us and me. Remember there is no U in team or in Obama. We can do it because we know we can. Obamalot is back and ready to be right from day one. With Bill McKay there's a better way and with Obama you know you'll wanna....do....something. Because change is American and we know we can.
by FDRDemocrat on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 07:00:36 AM PDT
That hurts Hillary in the end.
by DaveV on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 07:02:30 AM PDT
I have a lot of respect for Obama and even though he is currently not my candidate would happily vote for him. But notions like "open source democracy" make me shake my head. They are a throwback to the days of Plato's Philosopher Kings, except here, to paraphrase Huey Long, every man with a modem will be a king. Man as a creature wars daily with his own nature. He wants freedom, but he also wants order and predictability. This is the eternal dilemna
by FDRDemocrat on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 07:04:50 AM PDT
Or are you just going to continue railing against the title of an American Prospect article?
Does Net Neutrality mean anything to you? Or is that to vague and fuzzy?
How about disclosure enforcement? Does that mean anything?
For somebody who claims to want details, you're not very detail-oriented.
Does democracy really bother you that much, philosopher king?
by pontechango on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 07:10:05 AM PDT
It will unfold the same way term limits did - the law of unintended consequences will come into play. Just as term limits dethroned the old style political bosses only to replace them with new style lobbyist bosses, this new technological movement will start with the opening of democracy but swiftly empower an unelected techno-elite.
The average person has neither the inclination nor time to play the sort of role ideally described here. The vast majority of people just want to live their lives. Our democratic electoral system is an imperfect system but the Founders genius lay in the balance of powers playing off against one another.
Who will end up partaking of this ongoing exercise? It will skew towards the higher income demographics, and given our current socio-economic statistics these will be largely white men. The Digital Divide is real and remains unbridged. This scheme would have more merit if it recognized that technical wizardry will not only not address fundamental disparities, it will end up entrenching them.
by FDRDemocrat on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 07:36:49 AM PDT
In particular, your digital divide comment shows how little research you've done on this topic.
Deploy Next-Generation Broadband: Barack Obama believes that America should lead the world in broadband penetration and Internet access. As a country, we have ensured that every American has access to telephone service and electricity, regardless of economic status, and Obama will do likewise for broadband Internet access. Full broadband penetration can enrich democratic discourse, enhance competition, provide economic growth, and bring significant consumer benefits. Moreover, improving our infrastructure will foster competitive markets for Internet access and services that ride on that infrastructure. Obama believes we can get true broadband to every community in America through a combination of reform of the Universal Service Fund, better use of the nation’s wireless spectrum, promotion of next-generation facilities, technologies and applications, and new tax and loan incentives. Specifically, Obama proposes the following policies to restore America’s world leadership in this arena: • Redefine "broadband:" The Federal Communications Commission today defines "broadband" as an astonishingly low 200 kbps. This distorts federal policy and hamstrings efforts to broaden broadband access. Obama will define "broadband" for purposes of national policy at speeds demanded by 21st century business and communications. • Universal Service Reform: Obama will establish a multi-year plan with a date certain to change the Universal Service Fund program from one that supports voice communications to one that supports affordable broadband, with a specific focus on reaching previously un-served communities. • Unleashing the Wireless Spectrum: Obama will confront the entrenched Washington interests that have kept our public airwaves from being maximized for the public’s interest. Obama will demand a review of existing uses of our wireless spectrum. He will create incentives for smarter, more efficient and more imaginative use of government spectrum and new standards for commercial spectrum to bring affordable broadband to rural communities that previously lacked it. He will ensure that we have enough spectrum for police, ambulances and other public safety purposes. • Bringing Broadband to our Schools, Libraries, Households and Hospitals: Obama will recommit America to ensuring that our schools, libraries, households and hospitals have access to next generation broadband networks. He will also make sure that there are adequate training and other supplementary resources to allow every school, library and hospital to take full advantage of the broadband connectivity. • Encourage Public/Private Partnerships: Obama will encourage innovation at the local level through federal support of
Deploy Next-Generation Broadband: Barack Obama believes that America should lead the world in broadband penetration and Internet access. As a country, we have ensured that every American has access to telephone service and electricity, regardless of economic status, and Obama will do likewise for broadband Internet access. Full broadband penetration can enrich democratic discourse, enhance competition, provide economic growth, and bring significant consumer benefits. Moreover, improving our infrastructure will foster competitive markets for Internet access and services that ride on that infrastructure. Obama believes we can get true broadband to every community in America through a combination of reform of the Universal Service Fund, better use of the nation’s wireless spectrum, promotion of next-generation facilities, technologies and applications, and new tax and loan incentives. Specifically, Obama proposes the following policies to restore
America’s world leadership in this arena: • Redefine "broadband:" The Federal Communications Commission today defines "broadband" as an astonishingly low 200 kbps. This distorts federal policy and hamstrings efforts to broaden broadband access. Obama will define "broadband" for purposes of national policy at speeds demanded by 21st century business and communications.
• Universal Service Reform: Obama will establish a multi-year plan with a date certain to change the Universal Service Fund program from one that supports voice communications to one that supports affordable broadband, with a specific focus on reaching previously un-served communities.
• Unleashing the Wireless Spectrum: Obama will confront the entrenched Washington interests that have kept our public airwaves from being maximized for the public’s interest. Obama will demand a review of existing uses of our wireless spectrum. He will create incentives for smarter, more efficient and more imaginative use of government spectrum and new standards for commercial spectrum to bring affordable broadband to rural communities that previously lacked it. He will ensure that we have enough spectrum for police, ambulances and other public safety purposes.
• Bringing Broadband to our Schools, Libraries, Households and Hospitals: Obama will recommit America to ensuring that our schools, libraries, households and hospitals have access to next generation broadband networks. He will also make sure that there are adequate training and other supplementary resources to allow every school, library and hospital to take full advantage of the broadband connectivity.
• Encourage Public/Private Partnerships: Obama will encourage innovation at the local level through federal support of
Print this out and read it twice with a hilighter in hand.
http://obama.3cdn.net/... (pdf)
Do yourself a favor and learn the details instead of griping to others about your ignorance.
by pontechango on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 07:47:24 AM PDT
It's a long road to a more open form of government; and we will have to change our nature. But large numbers of people from all walks of life are willing to try -- if they have leadership. That's how transformations begin.
by DaveV on Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 07:15:56 AM PDT
wide narrow
View Story | 59 comments