Changing the Debate
Leveraging the Internet’s Power to Change Politics
Today’s Usage Will Determine the Net’s Role, Agent of Change or Supporter of the Status Quo
We no longer question the Net’s ability to change politics. It’s helped to make this the first Billion dollar presidential campaign. The character of that change, however, is open for debate. Can it improve the dialogue, or is it destined simply to amplify the echo chamber? Working in his spare time, David Colarusso, a full-time student and former high school teacher, is trying to find out, and every American has a say in what he’ll find.
Last year Colarusso helped run a similar endeavor techPresident’s 10questions, a joint effort in cooperation with the New York Times Editorial Board, MSNBC.com, and a cross-partisan assortment of bloggers/ecommunities. Obama, Huckabee, and a smattering of other primary candidates participated, and despite concerns from many about “silly” questions rising to the top, there were no talking snowmen. Even better, the candidates were not limited to thirty-second soundbites, and they actually seemed to answer the questions. So building upon the code he wrote for 10questions, Colarusso is now offering up http://www.communityCOUNTS.US
communityCOUNTS.US is currently accepting video and text questions for the candidates as well as votes on current entries. As Colarusso notes, “It’s only a matter of participation. As one of the candidates has said, ‘nothing can stand in the way of millions of voices calling for change.’ How we decide to use the Internet today is what we’ll be left with tomorrow. I just hope people tell their friends.”
If you’d like more information or to schedule an interview with Mr. Colarusso please use the Contact link below.
Tags: 10questions, debate, politics