Web 'fuelling crisis in politics'

[bemildred]

Tony Blair's outgoing chief strategy adviser fears the internet could be fuelling a "crisis" in the relationship between politicians and voters.

Matthew Taylor - who stressed he was speaking as a "citizen" not a government spokesman - said the web could be "fantastic" for democracy.

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"We have a citizenry which can be caricatured as being increasingly unwilling to be governed but not yet capable of self-government," Mr Taylor told the audience.

He really ought to just quote Gibbon and give credit for that.

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But rather than work out these dilemmas in partnership with their elected leaders, they were encouraged to regard all politicians as corrupt or "mendacious" by the media, which he described as "a conspiracy to maintain the population in a perpetual state of self-righteous rage".

The true problem, of course, is most politicians habitually lie and mislead.

BBC

[ixion]

1. It's called the truth, and it's high time there was a medium that could carry it

"The true problem, of course, is most politicians habitually lie and mislead."

Yep, I agree with that whole-heartedly.

[Warren Stupidity]

2. Damn it democracy is erupting!

This has to be stopped immediately.

The crisis is that the voters are no longer being reliably hornswoggled by the bullshit media system.

[warrens]

3. He has a point

But it would be more convincing if his boss hadn't lied so blatantly, covered up for Smirky the Wonder Chimp, and acted so outraged that the majority of his voters detested his stance in Iraq.

[IntiRaymi]

21. He does NOT have a point.

Politicians need to fear the electorate.

[radfringe]

23. the point is

people have access to more information. A little more than 10 years ago, the vast majority were dependent on local newspapers and TV/radio news. Discussion of events/issues were limited to family/neighbors/co-workers

Today, access has been expanded. People are able to view/read stories and commentary from countless sources. Sites, such as the DU, open up discussions between people who would otherwise never have met.

All this is spurring more involvement by the people - so while it may cause "disruption" of the political process, this is good, it means people are better informed, willing to participate and all this holds the politicians accountable.

The more uneasy polticians feel about the public looking over their shoulders - the better. A democracy is only as strong as the level of PUBLIC participation.

[gratuitous]

4. We can't just lie in people's faces anymore!

That would, indeed, be a "crisis" Mr. Taylor. It's very distressing to be called a liar, but there is one way to keep that from happening: Quit lying.

[More Than A Feeling]

5. Hey, look at that, the beginnings of a government of, by, and for the people!

Politicians have had over 200 years worth of notice that it was coming, and they're still shocked. Disgraceful.

[phoebe]

6. which is why, in part, we are finding media "consolidation" ramping up

in the US - to shut down the reporters who are investigating their crimes.
On a side note, remember that the pentagon specifically targeted independent reporters at the beginning of the "war" and we have seen the number of journalist deaths rise since that statement was made.

[HereSince1628]

7. Yeah, lying and misleading is a bitch without media complicity

Hahahahahahah!

So when the people figure out how to communicate with each other and prove they aren't alone in their critiques, blame the people and call them too stupid to govern themselves.

Fact is they've been kept stupid by the governing elite on purpose for much too long.

[praeclarus]

8. a conspiracy is it?....

... to keep the population in a perpetual state of rage.

Are these people for real? ha ha!

But it's by the book. To soften up the masses for the clampdown
first have to make them afeared of them internet tubes.

Notice any mention of internet in MSM these days is negative
when once it was touted as a boon to humanity.

[90-percent]

9. internets?

They can have my internets when they pry it out of my cold, dead, clammy hands.

The internets is the best thing to have happened to democracy since the drafting of the US Constitution.

Anybody that states otherwise is a traitor to democracy.

-85% Jimmy

[NVMojo]

10. they are afraid!

[pinerow]

11. Growing worldwide fascism is fueling "crisis in politics"...

:wtf:

[SOS]

12. "unwilling to be governed but not yet capable of self-government,"

Who is this arrogant putz quoting here?
Is it Marie Antoinette or Czar Nicholas II?

[Unvanguard]

13. Clearly, we need a whole lot more of this "crisis."

Scaring the rulers is the duty of every citizen.

[Odin2005]

14. THIS crap is what Neo-Conservatism is all about, folks.

Neo-Cons think that a society must be fed "useful myths" in order to stay together and that anyone who tries to disprove the useful myths is an enemy of society. These elitist fuckers can go to Hell. :grr:

[chknltl]

15. An "Enlightened Electorate" ????

Splendid idea. Who knows where THAT might lead! :patriot:
(Well I can dream can't I)????

[Orsino]

16. Afraid of any speech not controlled by a corporation. n/t

[angryxyouth]

17. Information is King

Once enough people are informed to what the British and the American Black opes have been up to there is going to have to be a revolution. They are scared!!

[sarcasmo]

18. The Internet, the last place for free speech. Kick to the top.

[Solly Mack]

19. The citizenry , they don't understand me

:eyes:

If only citizens would understand the hard life of a politician.....and that the big bad internet is making it harder for politicians to get the level of understanding they need from citizens...

[AlGore-08.com]

20. Damn that Al Gore for giving unwashed proles them Internets!

[CJCRANE]

22. The "crisis" is caused by neocon wannabes

trying to "create reality".

If they went back to making decisions based on real evidence and geared towards real results there would be no crisis.

[Neshanic]

24. "Printing press fuels crisis in politics" Ben Franklin arrested...

[PassingFair]

25. He should see the CRISIS it's creating HERE!

Every time the Democrats do something good,
the people

DONATE money to the DNC!!!

Over the tubes of the INTERNETS!!!

It's RUINING politics!

[NorthernSpy]

26. the elites are losing control of the conversation...

And they don't like that one bit. But their dismay goes down pretty sweet with me, for one.


:)

[bemildred]

27. Ditto that, NorthernSpy. nt

[Kenergy]

28. Tony Blair's outgoing chief strategy adviser fears the internet could be fuelling a "crisis" in the

Yep, freedom of speech is a problem for fascists.

[1932]

29. He's right. The MSM does prod the grass roots internet media to believe

that everyone lies.

What this guy says is an excellent description of what happened on the web during the '04 election. The web didn't help people get out the truth about good candidates so much as it encourage people to think that all candidates were bad.

I am oversimplifying a very complicated phenonmenon. But this guy is on to something.