The Worry of Excess: Internet Democracy

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It is an unfortunate situation, the effects of too many hours and too many searches – an individual sits before his computer, scanning site after site. The political frenzy has begun and he wishes to be informed of all changes. Candidates are inspected; their speeches are dissected; and all calls for social reform are read again and again. It’s a collection of quotes and statistics, videos and sound snippets. All elements of campaigns are carefully explored, with an intention to learn all that’s available. This is, it’s assumed, the only true way to make a proper decision.

But that decision is replaced to the sudden realization that the Internet is forever updating its truths; and the excess of information is overwhelming to all who seek it.

Online forums have revolutionized the understanding of democracy. Politics are made a common event, with their terms applied to those without experience. Chat-rooms allow for quick debates. Forums devote themselves to posting facts. And social networks remind all of impending rallies, petitions or campaign stops. It seems the wisest of choices… until it becomes too relied on.

Internet Democracy is a constant evolution of facts and propaganda. While this could never be deemed unimportant, it could perhaps be deemed complex. Individuals will find themselves surrounded by information – some of it accurate and some of it mere rumor. This can cause complications if there is an expectation that all items are to be learned. The masses will be greeted with too much to absorb and will have a difficulty in separating the essential from the nonsensical.

There is no limit to what can be found online. This is an advantage… but only when individuals avoid over-exposing themselves to every sliver of statistics. There must be caution applied to everything that is read and subsequently believed. Do not become overwhelmed by what is available. Tame it instead to what is needed.

Relevancy is vital. Excess is not.

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The New Polls: Internet Democracy

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It’s a hectic day – beginning with the dawn, with a gray sky greeting and the promise of rain. A man forces himself to stumble through his routine, knowing he has no time to waste. The polls will be opening soon and he must secure his position. He remembers all too well the debacle that was the last campaign: the lines that stretched across concrete, forcing him to wait for hours (and tempting him almost to abandon the entire idea). He does not wish to vote, even as he knows he must. It’s simply a scramble always to arrive first, finish early and salvage the rest of the afternoon. Civic duty is important but ultimately tedious. He wishes for an alternative.

He is not alone.

The rise of Internet Democracy has led many to consider the notion of turning the common polls into virtual ones – with sites dedicated to the public, allowing them to merely create an account and then verify it through voting. The intention is to simplify the process, ensuring that all efforts are made easy. There are to be no lines, no broken machines, no restless crowds. There is instead only to be efficiency.

This is, of course, not yet a reality. The initial costs and confusions have deemed it impractical… for now. It is growing in merit, however – with many believing it to be the answer to all political concerns. They cite faster results, fewer pauses (caused often by mismanagement of locations and polling booths) and instant access. Entering an online forum is far easier, it’s claimed, than the hassles of seeking land-based ones. There is time to save and value here to earn.

And because of this Internet Democracy is leading many toward the notion of casting votes online. It seems an idea for the future – but the future seems closer than ever before.

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Online Advantage: Internet Democracy

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The concept of Internet Democracy is one of much potential: many are claiming it to be the future of politics. No longer will information be filtered through stale newscasts or brittle text. No longer will the masses be forced to suffer confusion over candidates and their policies. And no longer will polls be clumsy events, with too long lines and too little relief. The intention is to replace the accepted practice with one of online ease.

The years to come, it is hoped, will offer digital polls. These are meant to simplify the process of choosing politicians and allow more individuals to become involved. Participation, it’s believed, will increase dramatically with the shift from the real world to the virtual one.

And the advantages to this make that belief seem a reasonable thing:

One: Speed. The great difficulty with choosing to vote with the typical machines comes from their demands of hours and patience. Crowds flock to the same locations and time then crawls. All choices can be quick and singular online, however. Individuals will only have to log-in and cast their decisions. There is no waiting involved.

Two: Simplicity. The procedure involved with voting can become a detractor for many (especially those of the younger generations). It’s a cumbersome effort. By streamlining the idea for the Internet, though, it becomes more appealing – and therefore more likely to attract higher attendances.

Three: Convenience. The majority of individuals have access to the Internet within their homes. This allows them to vote from the comforts of their living rooms, rather than having to drag themselves to the polls. It’s an instant reward and an instant convenience.

Internet Democracy is radically changing the way the public views the world and its candidates. And it is expected that the traditional methods (and all of their aggravations) will one day be changed as well.

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Internet Democracy: Virtual Poll Worries

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It seems the most ideal of choices: votes are to be conducted through online forums, no longer confined to tiny booths and malfunctions. The process is to be turned into a convenience – with individuals able to access their choices through wireless connections. Speed is now the only concern. All previous frustrations will be replaced instead to simplicity. Internet Democracy stands as a perfection never before achieved; and the masses are believed to soon be capable of voting as they always wanted (rather than how they were always forced). Virtual polls are deemed easy.

They are not, however, fully adequate.

Internet Democracy is – without question – a reinvention of politics. Information has been made available to the world, with opinions traded quickly. And this has, naturally, spawned the notion of revising the polling process and adapting it to the modern age. Most think this an inspiration. Others, however, have offered possible complications:

One: Cost. There is far more to virtual booths than simple forums. The initial price of creating this program on a national level would be immense – culminating in web design, technical support and lengthy campaigns for its announcement. Many believe this would be too great of a cost to combat.

Two: Inequality. Despite the assumptions of the masses, not all individuals have direct access to the Internet. While it is commonly found in most homes, there are still those who rely on public places to receive their information. This would then make voting difficult for them – causing them to choose areas ill-equipped for the sudden crowds.

Three: Distrust. While the younger generations have embraced Internet Democracy, there are still many who believe it to be a mistake; and these individuals would not wish to conform to the sudden use of computers and online polls. Their votes would therefore be lost.

The notion of change is to be expected. It cannot, however, occur without addressing all concerns.

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What are the Basics of Democracy?

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Though most people in the US understand why democracy is so important, some people do not completely understand what it is. Democracy is extremely important for people’s rights. in a democracy, the people have the right to be heard. If a law goes into effect, you have the right to object to it. There are different types of democracy, and in the US we are a democratic republic. In many organizations and groups, a more basic form of democracy is used.

in the basic form of democracy, almost all decisions are made by a popular or majority vote. For example, if you are in a group and they want to change the meeting day to a different day of the week, for this change to take place all members must vote. If more than half of the people say that they like the idea, it is accepted as the new meeting day.

In the government of the US, we don’t vote on every issue that comes our way. Instead, we vote for representatives, who then do the voting on the issues for us. This form of democracy tends to work better for the government of a country simply because if every person were to vote on every issue that came up, we would spend all of our time voting.

If you find that the representatives of your area are not voting how you feel they should be, you have more control over the situation than you do with things like what kind of TV show will be on next season or who gets listed among the top affiliate programs. Many times, people will contact their senator, congress person, or even governor, and let them know what they feel. If you really feel that the representative is not doing a good job, you can show it by not voting for that person in the next elections.

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