Topic: Abolition of Statism
Revolution and inertia continues in Sacramento With the best will in the world the lack of insight into how change takes place again marginalizes the potential for real change.by Melinda Pillsbury-Foster
(libertarian)
Friday, May 1, 2009
The slow but steady shift towards the Internet continued this past weekend at the annual Democratic Convention in Sacramento.
The issues addressed there officially were, as usual, broad and sweeping. 113 new resolutions considered for passage by their Resolutions Committee. Attendance broke records, causing pride and applause as delegates and friends basked in the afterglow of November's victories.
Issues such as universal health care were raised, applauded, and determinations made. Petitions on issues, including gay marriage, again taken up in the wake of last year's failure with Prop 8 in California, were circulated. Furious applause welcomed endorsement of Prop 1F. the measure that would stop raised for legislators while the state is in financial trouble.
Traditional media stayed away in droves, likely because of money and because this convention, a 'tweenie,' did not offer presidential candidates or the final flurry before primary for the incoming crop of gubernatorial hopefuls. No reporter from the Wall Street Journal appeared. Matt Drudge and his ilk were not in view. Stringers from Associated Press represented the national media. The list of those attending, not just submitting credentials was heavily weighed by bloggers and a platform, equal to that provided for the trad media was set up and fully filled.
With the failure of many papers and the shrinking of staffs for traditional print media is one measure of the shift towards the Internet as the medium for news. From the New York Times to the Columbus Dispatch it is being felt at all levels. The change over has taken place in fast forward in ordinary terms. Blogging began as articles, written in traditional form and published online. That trend for news, opinion, and emergency coverage via video changed with the use of videos online by You Tube and the advent of cell phone cameras for both stills and video. Trad media now provide online locations for posting opinion and providing materials.
The first instablogging changed the on site coverage of the world during the Camp Casey Event in August of 2005. The Iconoclast, the small but mighty paper from Crawford, Texas who risked it all to endorse Kerry over home-town boy George Bush in 2004, carried out that coverage spontaneously through the weeks the encampment continues.
You never predict the direction of innovation or its impact. All changes in business and technology over the last generation have moved towards imploding the infrastructure needed to provide management for business and government. Business eliminated layers of personnel starting in the 70s, using computers on desks to lower costs and improve efficiency in countless ways. Consumers saw little benefit, finding their need for service handled impersonally at increasing levels. But with the advent of the Internet the revolution met the roots. The potentials for organizing found their first real breakout in the Ron Paul Revolution, the Web based effort that ignored the official campaign hired by Paul that built its own movement. Others are following their examples though another break out is yet to occur.
Their tools will be the same. Those tools utilize the convergence of all mediums of news, information, and opinion, moving them out from under the control of centralized media and into the hands of the people. As with all changes the shape of information industry shifted to accommodate the choices made by individuals.
Politically and personally, the world is changing. Changes driven by choice is delivering news, entertainment and communications that cost less and provide more individual options. Check out your teenager's phone, if you doubt that.
The question we need to consider is how these tools will change the challenges now coming.
Just days ago the fact that torture was approved in advance, not for need, hit the mainstream through Keith Olbermann's program on the Torture Memos. Rumor from Democratic sources says that in less than one week a member of Congress will request a special prosecutor. Accountability is coming, despite the best efforts of Dick Cheney.
Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, formerly a Republican for 29 years, reregistered Democrat. The GOP may well lose its position as a major party, replaced by a fracturing and realignment of the Democratic Progressive Libertarian Green factions in those parties.
The next election in California also warrants watching. Enthusiasm for long time retread Jerry Brown was loud, coming on with undercurrents of shrugs and scowls. Activists on the edge want a candidate with a clean reputation and clarity in ideas and ideology. Several such candidates were present, though none is running for the gubenatorial nomination of the Democratic Party.
Ted Lieu, candidate for Attorney General, made the mortgage crisis a major issue. A naturalized American whose family immigrated from Taiwan said, "This country has given me everything. I cannot do enough to give back." Lieu is committed to seeing that Americans keep their homes as one of several issues that will potentially bring him wide support from all parties. Other similar legislators have changed the face of politics in California.
The tools are in the hands of the people. Politics is changing and the changes will be rapid. The next two years will be, as they say, interesting.
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The views expressed in this
article are those of Melinda Pillsbury-Foster only and do not represent
the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. Melinda Pillsbury-Foster is
solely responsible for the contents of this article and is not an
employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
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