Politics
Entries related to things political.
Sony and our National Security
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Thu, 11/17/2005 - 21:10(Originally published in Greater Democracy)
Recently, there has been a lot of discussion about Sony's 'rootkit' that they had secretly been installing on computers around the world and the security issues it has raised.
As I read this, I felt compelled to write the following letter to my Congressperson, Chris Shays, who is chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations.
How are blogs changing the political landscape?
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Wed, 11/09/2005 - 22:26(Originally published at Greater Democracy.)
Today, I received an email from Mike Lidell, the director of Online Communications for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee asking me to join in a blogger’s conference call with Senator Chuck Schumer, DSCC Chair.
In contrast, I received a bulk email from Howard Dean entitled “Investments pay off”. It asked for a $25 contribution. Rahm Emanuel, Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee sent a bulk email entitled, “Democratic Vision Wins Out” asking for a contribution. Emily’s list sent a bulk email “Insider News - Setting the stage for 2006” asking for a contribution. The bulk email from Eli Pariser of MoveOn was entitled “Good election news! Now let's win big in 2006” and asked me to donate now. Jim Dean, of Democracy for America entitled his bulk email, “...And We're Only Getting Started”. It also asked for a contribution. John Kerry’s bulk email was entitled, “Reality 2, Bush 0” and asked me to click on an online petition calling to withdraw 20,000 troops over the holidays and asking for a contribution.
A New Content Supplier
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Sat, 11/05/2005 - 12:03(Originally published in Greater Democracy).
Back in August, I wrote about Political Network Topologies, drawing a distinction between two models of politics, one in terms of social networks and the other in terms of citizens as consumers. Jock added a comment pointing me to the work of Anna Nagurney from Umass on supernetworks.
I listened her keynote at MeshForum 2005 and started thinking in different ways about networks. Usually, when I think about networks, I think about nodes and links. However, she points out the importance of the flow on the network as well.
Yesterday, Grant McCracken wrote about brands as a new content provider. He focuses on the ‘flow’ aspects of social networks and how this flow is essential to sustaining social networks. He goes on to suggest that brands may be an important source of ‘flow’ for social networks, thus bringing together ideas of politics as a social network and politics as a group of citizens as consumers.
Unleading
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Fri, 11/04/2005 - 13:00(Originally published at Greater Democracy.)
Over on Full Circle Online Interaction Blog, Nancy White asks, “How should we select our Keynote speakers?” She points to this blog post where Andrew observes, “Sitting in conferences I have often looked around at the audience and thought about the incredible opportunity for discovery which lies within”.
When I first read these posts, I thought of conferences I’ve been to where the keynote speaker or the panelists are sitting in front of a large screen with an online chat behind them. There have been great discussions that have taken place in such chats. Take a look at the Personal Democracy Forum Backchat for a good example.
My thought is that the best Keynote speakers, and for that matter the best leaders of any sort are likely to be those that can work well with a public backchat going on.
Supreme Court Nominees
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Thu, 10/27/2005 - 12:18Well, the news is out that Harriet Miers has cut and run from the Supreme Court nomination. Friends are telling me that this is simply clearing the way for a nomination of Karl Rove, but I don't believe it.
Meanwhile, I should point out that I am not withdrawing my supreme court nomination
