CingularDuality

Yeah, but the majority of Americans don't vote.

Regardless, I think that at this point in time that old media is still more influential than the web, but we've seen the power balance shifting over the last few elections, and I think we're going to continue to see it shift.

__________________

Become a supporting member! -- Shop at the Tactical Market!

Take the world's smallest political quiz! "I was touched by His Noodly Appendage."
TacticalGamer TX LAN/BBQ Veteran:

USN_Squid

Something else to consider is that those who do vote are more likely to be network watchers and the younger folks raised on the web are less likely voters. I don't have any numbers, but generally those under 25 aren't very likely to vote.

EDIT:
Here are the '04 numbers.

__________________

El_Gringo_Grande

Yep. It will be interesting to see what happens when this networked generation actually starts voting.

How will text messaging and MySpace type things affect all this? The cost on that stuff is very low.

__________________
Sen. Barack Obama (IL) For President '08
---
I’m not racists, I have republican friends. Radio show host.
- "The essence of tyranny is the denial of complexity". -Jacob Burkhardt
- "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds" - Emerson
- "People should not be afraid of it's government, government should be afraid of it's People." - Line from V for Vendetta
- If software were as unreliable as economic theory, there wouldn't be a plane made of anything other than paper that could get off the ground. Jim Fawcette

xTYBALTx

Hopefully MoveOn.org will be forced to be more objective and to present both sides of every issue.

__________________
Current good song: Justice - Stress

JAMerica

I don't see how allowing equal access to a resource is oppressive. It's not like anyone is forcing them to air both sides. It just should be simple...you pay, you play. Businesses are not allowed to pick and choose who they serve in many instances. Why would anyone have a legitimate interest in stiffling debate over an issue?

LOL, yeah when I put that link in there I considered the irony. She got far more publicity than the original ad would have ever given her.

But really, if a single tv station can do it, why not a whole network. Why not a whole content provider. What I'm hearing is that there wouldn't be a problem if a group of politically similar minded people purchased all the major content providers and eliminating the other parties political voice by deciding not to do business with them. Farfetched? Absolutely. Impossible? Probably not, especially in localized markets. I couldn't think of anything more undemocratic.

Again, I'm not for forcing people to be objective, but I can't think of any legitimate reason for not allowing at least the opportunity for equal access to broadcasting medium. As for MoveOn.org, anyone that that doesn't agree with their message does have access to the internet to post their own website on the subject.

The internet is obviously going to play a major part in future elections. To me, what makes more powerful than tv or radio is that as a user, you have to seek out the information. It's much more active, and as we all know, when you go to search for one piece of information, you end up with a seemingly endless stream of "related" information through other search hits and linked content. Assimilating this information is the hallmark of the "networked" generation.

But wait, what about net neutrality? Doesn't this offer the same opportunity for abuse?

__________________

--------------------------------------------
Jamerius (Feral Druid)

Steeler

MoveOn.org is not a gatekeeper.

__________________

Kerostasis

I'm not saying that wouldn't be a problem if it happened. I'm saying that this particular scenario hasn't happened yet, and isn't likely to happen in the near future. Next I'm saying that the idea of passing laws to prevent violations that have never happened doesn't carry enough benefit to us to be worth the side effects of more limited free speech.

I've got no comment on long-term future for the moment.

__________________

JAMerica

OK. fair enough.

__________________

--------------------------------------------
Jamerius (Feral Druid)