The 2008 Election Digital Divide
The Internet and Citizen Journalism now part of the Voting Ritual
Some Observations:
The use of the internet in this election is part of the Historic Firsts for America, the WWW and the world. And my most important observation is that it is without a doubt a watershed moment, the tipping point between America in the present and America in the past. Barack and Michelle Obama use computers, use email, are comfortable with social media and so is their staff, and it shows. All the bloggers, all the citizens who have posted material that gave access to those who are not courted by campaigns in their town, who may feel isolated - unimportant in the voting process have been online and found the community that energized them, made them feel part of a community of friends on line and got motivated to vote. The net is responsible for energizing so many more people to register, give money, and vote.
vs.
McCain who doesn't know how to turn the computer on! doesn't do email! doesn't have a clue about the net or what it is about! He is so last century that It is stunning!
McCain doesn't have the 21 century (whatever you think that means) skills to get a job in today's world. He wouldn't know what a high school graduate is supposed to know about technology. He's one of the "No Child Left Behind" grownups who is completely left behind in the dark age. Sarah Palin used her own personal email account for State Business which anyone can tell you is illegal so why didn't she know that?
THE REAL DIGITAL DIVIDE that exists between McCains group of people who would like to be in charge of K-12 education, Higher Education, and training unskilled workers to compete in the world and Obama's group who knew how to use the internet to spread enthusiasm, community, and ultimately voter turnout is so 21st century that it too is stunning!
No one should be able to hold office and be in charge of the most important decisions that will affect how America will compete in the world who only has last century skills.
Decisions about Top Level Domain Names, Icann, Privacy, Copyleft, IP responsibilities, Bandwidth spead, delivery, and pricing, IP czars, antipiracy treaties, net neutrality, ecommerce and taxes, data retention laws, spam, email blocking, best peering, phone fees, RIAA Intellectual Property Law, Comcast 250 GB cap, FCC Reforms and the Communications Agenda for the Next Administration and I can go on and on and on.
No one on the planet has ever seen Citizen journalism effect the voting process the way it has in the 2008 election for the following reasons:
1) One of the most amazing differences in play with this election is how the Internet was and is being used in this ritual. This has never happened before in history - anywhere - because it is World Wide.
2) I think one of the most powerful way to undermine your opponent is the use humor to make fun and defeat the other party. The internet is the gift that keeps on giving, because now all the scenes watched on TV which used to be a one time event for everyone to witness and enjoy has now become a 24/7 video that can be watched anytime, anywhere, forever.
All the music video's from people all over the world whose songs about the candidate they love will be a record of the change and the amount of views testimony of it's power.
3) Up to the second minute by minute reports by the citizen reporting polling place problems, fraud, abuse etc. Everyone can carry their camera, cell phone camera, video camera to shoot anything they like then in real time upload it to the website for all to see.
4) The cell phone connection to the net and texting that immediately alerts you to the latest info that you are interested in knowing so that you can be part of the mob that swarms the location you need to go to.
5) The social net and use of widgets that spread the word.
Examples: ECP BLOG http://blog.edu-cyberpg.com/
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