I ran into this post today on Politico: www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith (you might have to scroll down- it's called The Arrival of Direct Democracy.
In it, an article is linked that discusses how technological updates have brought us closer to direct democracy have brought partisanship to an all-time high and may be responsible for the ideological purity demanded by both sides (particularly in healthcare). It also suggests this may be responsible for the government gridlock seen recently.
It also seems like a call for a return to the elite model (Smith disagrees) and actually lays the blame of government failures not at the expenditure of political energy at things like American Idol but rather at the fact that there is too much involvement now.
What does everyone think? Personally, I think the (at the risk of sounding like a snob) that some of the grassroots energy in the Republican Party has driven it away from any attempt to governing. Personally, I feel a return to a elite-run model in that party would in fact benefit the way in which government ran. Not so sure on the Democrat side (don't follow their politics as well). But I'd be interested in what everyone thinks...
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I believe the technology stated in the post has served as a control for the parties to regulate the extreme views that are maintained by members in parties.
ReplyDeleteAlthough there may be more access for far left and far right perspectives to be heard by interest groups and the general public, technology allows parties to filter the messages of these groups so their original idea does not have a chance to materialize.
Parties are too focused on converting those in the middle to come on board, that they have little time for those at the extreme end of the ideological spectrum.
Technological opportunities can serve as a medium for alternative viewpoints from the traditional way of thought to be heard, but until those with perspectives that stray from mainstream thought possess the funds, they will be no match for the top dogs of the party who own too much power for anything that may offend the moderates the party seeks to get in the way.