After doing this weeks reading I have decided that the influence of technology on the political scene of our society has come leaps and bounds over the past decade alone. Internet technology and its influence on politics has happened so quickly I feel that we as citizens cannot even recognize at times the changes we have come so accustomed to. It is amazing to think of running a campaign without the use of the internet as a networking, fundraising and over all political campaigning tool. When I was reading about Joe Trippi I was astounded to see the strides he individually made to the political technological world. Where would we be politically or socially without the ability to attrack so much attention with so little effort. I think the part that described Joe as a salt-n-pepper haired, unattractive, overweight computer nerd just clicking away at his desk was priceless. While actual candiates are still required to make public appearences, their campagin mangers are making it easier and easier to bring people to them, instead of the other way around. Even with the idea of lemonade stand’s Kennedy’s race was a little bit like the internet and its networking capabilities. Bringing in more bodies with less costs (cost/body theory). With blogs, online groups, emailing, listserves and so on campaigners are capable of reaching masses of people at the touch of button. Organizing a rally or a speech? No matter what area of the US it is in, you can reach that grouping of people by just sending a quick announcement via group emailings or the candidates personal blog or website. You can see it on a smaller level just with the usage of facebook and advertising for individual parties and gatherings. When my current show “Sound of Music” opened this past weekend I sent out an announcement on facebook weeks in advance inviting people and providing them with links to newspaper reviews, maps on how to get there and the theatre’s website. People could ignore it or read it, either way…they knew it was happening and that information is the necessity of political advertising. Making people aware, whether they want it or not.
I think on the flipside of this idea you can also see how internet technology can impact the voters positively as well. It is so simple to go online and read about, study campaign ideas, volunteer, donate money, attend a rally or speech, etc by just logging onto the internet and surfing away! In regards to Kerry and Bush’s websites from the 2004 campaigns I think that this can provide the basic links and information that we lack as voters. Seeing what they’re doing, what they believe in, where their followers are, and where you can get involved. It is important to look at the impact of the visual layout of these websites and blogs as well. As Kathy analyzed in the article, based on the visual layouts and overall performance of these political websites, it is paramount of a candidate to have well-organized, easily navigated and visually appealing site. If it hard to navigate and a visual overload, its immediately not worth my time. While campaigners look at cost per body of voters, I believe voters, just like any human being looks at time management. If this site is too hard to get around they will be naturally inclined to go to a site with more easily accessible information and if that happens to be a more biased or opposing site then, too bad for that canidate. I think that the internet technology has impacted politics more than we as voters have even realized in the past decade, and in race coming up we can already see the new impacts it is having. Canidates announcing their entering the presidential race via their websites before TV and print media can even get the news is absolutely a jump in an even newer technological direction.
Discussion Questions:
What does the class think will be the next wave of internet or technological influence on campaining within our society? Will it benefit us as voters or only those running?
Has the internet had a more positive or negative effect on the political scene in our society? Has it made everything more superficial and hard to read? Has the information overload been to much to handle as of lately? Where will it go next?
