The Web Won't Topple Tyranny

An anonymous reader writes "Joshua Kurlantzick of the New Republic online writes that the internet--once heralded as a revolutionary force in politics--has turned out to be surprisingly nonthreatening to dictators and tyrannies. Reminds me of Howard Dean, and the trend to see technological change as a politically progressive force. Maybe this is not such a good idea?"

Comments

Re:Hmprf

[JuiceBySarah]

"surprisingly nonthreatening to dictators and tyrannies. " Since they generally don't have internet access is those countries, where's the surprise?

what are you talking about? aol is part of one of the biggest corporations in the world, and provides access to millions of americans.

(ie., that's one tyrannical country with loads of internet access).

freedom of speach does not topple dictators.

[bsDaemon]

the first amendment was first because it is those rights which are most often exercised in a free and civil society. The 2nd Amendment is 2nd because it is that right which keeps a society free and civil -- only the threat of arms keeps governments honest. If you really believe we'd still have free elections in the USA without a substantial number of armed citizens, then I hope you're very happy in Cuba, China, Nazi Germany, the USSR, et cetera.

Re:Some change has occurred

[iminplaya]

The Internet has brought world news into the American household. Before, we only had the local media and a handful of cable news networks. It has already started influencing how the American people view politics, and elevated their level of interaction with it.

Yet, they still put a sociopath in the white house...

saddam

[minus_273]

is a great example, there were more people using thw web to help keep him in power than the other way around. Heck his ministers went on al-jazeera TV after the war saying the reason he held out was that he was hoping the anti-war groups would be effective in stopping the US.

Re:What the Internet is really good at...

[toupsie]

The Dean supporters don't see it as a "swindle".

Yep, the perfect mark, doesn't even know they have been had.

They see it as Dean took all the media heat for that amount of time..the first person to hit the beach, and hard. And set the tone for the entire debate in a very positive fasion.

Are you joking? Set the debate in a very positive fashion? Accusing the President of the United States of having prior knowledge of the 9/11 attacks is completely the opposite of a positive debate.

YYYYEEEEEAAARRRGGGGHHHHH!