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Internet Fosters Local Political Movements in the U.S.

Thanks to the explosion of the Internet and online blogging, grassroots political movements are growing exponentionally in the U.S. People who otherwise would not be heard are organizing, supporting candidates, removing others, and letting their voices be heard. They are proving to be a force for change, and their actions are starting to make a difference. In this era of people-driven politics, these newly empowered constituents are using technology to send a message to politicians. Had the Internet existed in the 1960's, the anti-war movement would have gained momentum much sooner.

The same holds true for Canada, as evidenced by the recent "Klandergate". Mike Klander's disparaging, nasty comments made on his blog about Olivia Chow and Jack Layton would have gone unnoticed, had it not been for an observant Canadian blogger who posted about it. After it exploded over the Canadian blogosphere, the CBC had no recourse but to finally issue a report about it late on Monday. As a consequence, Klander stepped down from his volunteer position as executive vice-president of the Liberal Party's Ontario wing. His blog has been taken off line, and he apologized to Olivia Chow. Klander also made some very rude comments about other politicians, but so far, he has not aplogized to anyone else.

Hence, it is high time that all politicians start paying attention to bloggers, and regard them as a serious source of disseminating information, and pay heed to their voices and opinions.


Read more about the American political movements fostered by the Internet:

"Politicians who pay little heed could find frustrated voters banding together and creating a third-party movement.

"At some point this has got to reach critical mass," Kofinis said. "Nobody knows when that will happen or how that will happen, but it will literally explode into a movement."

" Frustrated by government and empowered by technology, Americans are filling needs and fighting causes through grass-roots organizations they built themselves — some sophisticated, others quaintly ad hoc. This is the era of people-driven politics.

From a homemaker-turned-kingmaker in Pittsburgh to dog owners in New York to a "gym rat" here in southwest Florida, people are using the Internet to do what politicians can't — or won't — do.

This is their story, but it's also an American story because ordinary folks are doing the extraordinary to find people with similar interests, organize them and create causes and connections.

"People are just beginning to realize how much power they have," said Chris Kofinis, a Democratic consultant who specializes in grass-roots organizing via the Internet. "

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posted by Annamarie at 2:50 AM