I am frightened about the future of Daily Kos. This is not because it is not working as a community forum, it is because it is working so well. The concept of a communal blog where everyone has a voice that can be heard is so great, and it has worked so well that we are getting big time politicians (and even presidential candidates!) on here. Don't get me wrong, I was amazed when John Kerry started posting diaries on the site, but I must say I am truly concerned about a congressional takeover of Dkos.
Why?
Because...
Obviously anytime a member of congress posts on this site it is highly expected to make the recommended list. I believe that it is great that our site has become so powerful that distinguished politicians feel the desire and need to be involved with it. But I fear that as more and more politicians use the site and get recommended diaries because of who they are, the citizens using this blog will lose their voices. After all, this site is about people powered politics; it is a place where the American public can discuss its government and the running of it. I will feel terrible if such a great site that works so beautifully falls victim to the power that big name politicians wield. The last thing I want for this site is for it to become a board upon which politicians bounce their ideas, stir up the base, and essentially use all of us the way politicians are famous for doing.
I do not want to log on to this site one day and see that the recommended diaries list is John Kerry, John Conyers, Russ Feingold, Edward Kennedy, Barack Obama, and Marie Louise Slaughter. As much as I hold all of those individuals in high regard, this site is not about them, it is about us. It is a place where we can make our voices heard, not just another arena dominated by the power players in Washington. I do not believe that the legislators listed above are using this site for pure political gain (but obviously some); however I feel that as Washington cacthes on to Daily Kos's popularity and success we will begin to see more and more career politicians posting on this site just so that they can benefit from it while claiming to be having a conversation with "everyday Americans."
I do not have the solution to this potential problem. If we limit the posts of members of congress then we are taking away from the essential rock of this site: freedom of speech. On the other hand, if we limit posts of members of congress then we ensure that our voices will continue to be heard and will not be drowned out by the moving mouths of the Washington establishment. This is a serious concern of mine that I hope all of us will take into account and one that I hope Markos will give some serious thought to.