America's Intranet 

By Chris Gulker 

The recent elections gave me (and I bet I'm not alone) cause to wonder if the days of popularly elected government are not numbered.

A net-connected electorate could improve voter turnout (funny that the
encryption software that would make this feasible is being fought tooth and
nail by the Feds), and allow citizens to be heard directly on any number of
issues. 

We could study our laws on public servers, become informed through access
to countless points of view from news media and sites offered by private
citizens.

Discussion could take place immediately in newsgroups and via e-mail, and
informed decisions reflecting the majority could be quickly, efficiently
implemented.

The gap between Washington or Sacramento (or wherever) and us could
narrow dramatically.

Wired magazine this month features a baron of capitalism saying that
sovereignty, described as the ability of a governmant to do things in secret,
and one of the prime tenants of governance, is a dead duck.

Think of it: a government that did only what the people wanted, where
everyone had an equal voice, where taxes were spent only for essential
services rather than pork-barrel projects. Ideal?

Hmmmmm. Naaah...

Think of what would happen the day after some tragedy, like the Iraq
attacking Kuwait, or Somalians dragging a dead American throguh the
streets. Would outraged citizens, in the heat of emotion, vote to nuke the
perpetrating nation?

Would a law be passed every time people got annoyed by taxes? Prop 13,
prop 14, prop100037? 

Would the country collapse under a glut of special interest laws? One for
abortion rights, one against? One banning handguns, one promoting assault
rifles, depending on recent headlines?

Would we maked informed decisions on complex issues? ("I'm gonna vote
during the commercial, right after the Simpsons... now, should we support
an amendment to the constitution requiring a balanced budget except in
recessionary times or when GNP growth equity ratio exceeds
employment/productivity index?")

But mainly, if we made all the decisions, there'd be no one to blame except
ourselves. Pillorying politicians for our own lack of civic awareness is a
God-given right, and great sport, too boot. What if WE were the only ones
to blame?

However, this is not to say that I don't think the Net could be a VERY
effective tool for citizens. 

Jefferson believed that public education was absolutely essential if people
were to govern themselves. Ignorance is a terrible governor (witness Nazi
Germany). The Net is a powerful medium for education.

Further, If the Net could become a truly powerful opinion influencer
(100,000 prompt emails to congresspersons who abused the office, for
example).

If we citizens, through our own ad hoc councils, used it wisely to address
the flaws and rough edges in our 200-year-old democracy, then the Net
could be a big win, a tremendous tool for government as well as its other
uses.

But that's my opinion... what's yours?