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Howard Rheingold on Using the Internet in Politics
Roland Piquepaille writes "The latest issue of BusinessWeek Magazine, dated March 29, 2004, contains a special report, 'Click The Vote,' which states that 'in the age of Internet politics, the Web can make or break a candidate.' The online version of this report includes an interview of Howard Rheingold, 'A Major Change in the Political Equation.' This overview contains selected excerpts about what is the essential impact of the Internet on politics today or what are the benefits to using the Internet in politics. Finally, if you want to discover the universe of Smart Mobs, be sure to visit regularly the Smart Mobs collective weblog."
Lets see: according to comScore Media Metrix in february johnkerry.com had over 1 mil. visits (103% growth), representing his success in the democrats presidential preliminary election. There were also 14% increase (compared to previous month) in the overall visitors in the politics cathegory in US making a total of 16 visitors in Feb. John Edvards site had 480,000 visitors (+60%), Dean and Clark got 355,000 (-50%) and 185,000 (-50) visitors, respectively. I guess that underlines the weight of the Net in politics in the coming elections ...
I agree with the Bowler. Rheingold may wish it to be so, but there is no concrete proof that it helps a candidate get elected.
What there is evidence of, is that it is a new source of fundraising. The stat that everyone is buzzing about in the beltway, is how far that Dean lowered the average campaign contribution to. I don't have the number, and can't find it right now, but I think it's down around $60 or so. Kerry wants desperately to figure out a way to fundraise via the net, expect something BIG from the Democrats regarding this around the time of the convention. I'm predicting they are going to all out with a "flash"y website and Paypal integration, as much as they figure out how to do.
I read Rheingold's book on his days at the WELL. First of all, what Rheingold seems to gloss over, was that the Well was a BBS. As in, the one that you dial into. not a Web BBS.
What's really annoying about his book, is his tone that the Well was the only interesting, progressive BBS *ever*. He wasn't on Compuserve or GEnie in the old days, so he has no fucking idea what he's talking about, but because the Well was made up of Bay area intellectuals, they thing the experience only pertained to them.
I'm a somewhat old timer when it comes to this stuff, I started BBSing in the early 80s. I found his book insulting and incredibly egotistic.
>Rheingold may wish it to be so...
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http://www.smartmobs.com/archives/002611.html