Posted On: May, 16, 2007 16:05:44 By anne stewart

The Fine Print: Why Ron Paul and Mike Gravel Don’t Stand a Chance

Does the web have the power to elect the next President? Or are online politics all bark and no bite?

First Mike Gravel, now Ron Paul. The internet is showing its support for its favorite underdogs. And of course, it would. That’s the nature of web culture, to make the voice of the little guy heard. In this way, the web seems to have the potential, in a sense, to bring a semblance of true democracy to the voting process.

In a true democracy, anybody can run for President.

In a true democracy, anybody can become the President.

It’s great.

We’ve been missing that in this country for a long time. Did you know that when we first started electing our officials, people would cross out the names on the provided paper ballots, and just write in the names of the people they wanted to see in office? No longer. Instead of voting for whoever we want, we vote strategically on the surface, and on a subconscious level, under the coercion of corporations and the media that represents them.

But the internet gets to change all that, right? After all, this campaign season is the season of the online election. All the action’s happening here, right? Right?

Except that you see candidates like Ron Paul enjoying this tidal wave of exposure online, but their place in the polls doesn’t change, and their desperate need for funding doesn’t change. It’s early in the race to tell, but this kind of cause-and-effect pattern doesn’t say much for the tangible political heft of the online community.

Are we happy to sit behind our desks, pushing buttons and spitting rhetoric, but not to hit the streets in support of our favorite under-budgeted, famously infamous candidate?

In a democracy, people rally, they put up banners, they poster entire cityscapes with the names of their favorite candidates. It all comes down to the individuals that are prepared to be involved in the campaigns, in strengthening voter communication and integrating their candidates in the mesh of our social consciousness. Right now, this is done almost entirely by mainstream media.

So how can the web cross over into battling neck-and-neck with the mainstream media for the integration of its own candidates? In other words, can anybody be President, really? Or is it only the people with the most money, the most power, and the most influence amongst the upper echelons of society that will ever be able to weasel their way into the coveted post?

The answer to these questions seems to lie in the hands of voters. Do we want just anybody – somebody like us – to be President? Or, deep down, do we want kings, dictators, people who we truly believe to be above us? I’ll watch to see how the internet does this election season, because even if it doesn’t tell me who the next President will be, I think it will give me an answer to my questions.

5 Comments Posted So Far:
Posted By: kurt On 2007-06-06 00:38:25

If we all thought like Mrs. stewart we should just give up all our rights and sign our bank accounts over to the government and be owned.
WRONG!
The Ron Paul movement is strong and growing we just don't sit behind our PCs were out in our communities spreading the word.

Yes were fighting a right-wing corporate media show. But it's people like you that just sit around doing nothing about it and just complain about how our government is screwing us all the time.

Just one many:
http://www.ronpaulforums.com

www.ronpaul2008.com

Posted By: Yor Castle On 2007-05-16 17:40:50

It's fine to dream of the internet wielding the kind of power that influences political races, but, so far anyway, the high powered media machines are miles ahead of the grassroots consciousness raisers. I want to believe things can change, but what can I do? I'm just one mac mini!

Posted By: john On 2007-05-16 18:23:18

Good article, but misleading title.

"Are online politics all bark and no bite?" would have suited it better.

Posted By: ralph solonitz On 2007-05-25 09:45:29

the democrats have sold us out...they are cowards, and I am furious.
The corporations, big business run the republicans and now I see also the Democrats.Where do we go now...new primary candidates...?
End this war, increase the minimum wage, get healthcare for all Americans...catch air america streaming or xm radio.

Posted By: Dr. R. Young On 2007-06-30 03:09:30

I think the American people have finally reached the point where they have realized that mainstream political candidates are all serving big corporations and special interests, and NOT the needs of the American people.
They promise us everything, and then they get elected and develop amnesia. Name me just one President in recent years that has kept even one tenth of his promises.
I think we all have come to the realization that no matter which mainstream candidate we may select...we're gonna get raped. They all serve the same masters.
This election, I have a very strong feeling we the people are going to put an end to all that. When the Dems were voted in to send a message to GW, they instead sent a message to us...that we don't count! They have done nothing for us but rape us some more.
Why is Ron Paul doing so well you may ask? He has a long record of saying what he means, and doing what he says he will do. He has ALWAYS been for the people, and for America, we just never noticed him...until now!
And boy, have we noticed him. He's got America so excited we are all lining up and waiting for those polls to open so we can vote for HIM!
You can see it on the internet, and on every street corner. We are chomping at the bit to elect him.
Last time I checked, I believe way over half the country was internet active, maybe closer to 3/4 of the country. It seems rather odd that a lot of folks seem to think the internet will not be a significant factor in this election. After all, more people browse the web than watch ABC, CBS, NBC, ect. I personally have not watched network news in over 2 years, and I am far better informed than most folks that do watch it. I have heard however that network news is doing their job well...ignoring and deleting any mention of Ron Paul, and hoping the people will forget about him.
Instead, I think most Americans are forgetting about the network news. They are turning to the internet in droves for more "accurate" news.
The network polls show Ron Paul at 2 percent, yet everyone I come in contact with is planning to vote for him. If I were to guess at his popularity based on what I have seen and heard locally, and project that out to a national level...I would guess about 60+ percent of the folks in America will vote him in office.
Now, who am I to believe...the networks, or my own eyes and ears?
Guess we'll see in '08, the year we the people say "enough is enough".
Oh, and in conclusion...RON PAUL for President! Anything less is "Unconstitutional". (literally)

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