*** Democracies Online Newswire - http://www.e-democracy.org/do *** According to the UCLA Internet study only 29.3 percent of Internet users agree "by using the Internet people like you can have more political power." This connects directly with my post this morning about the thriving e-democracy effort <http://www.egroups.com/message/do-wire/736> in Winona, Minnesota. When people publicly engage one another online within the context of real politics (which is most often defined by geographical jurisdiction) they can have more political power. That is what I am about - opening up spaces for political involvement that connect with real power. Since the world is run by those who show up, let's make it possible for them to show up from home. More on this theme at the Wired for Change conference ... Steven Clift Democracies Online Newswire See: http://www.ccp.ucla.edu/newsite/pages/internet-report.asp Check out page 31 of the PDF report for their political questions or read the clip below: THE UCLA INTERNET REPORT: Surveying the Digital Future 31 POLITICAL POWER AND INFLUENCE Respondents say the Internet can be an important resource for gathering information about political issues, but is still emerging as a tool that can create more political power, or influence political decisions and government officials. When asked if �by using the Internet people like you can better understand politics,� 45.6 percent of users and 28.1 percent of non- users agree, compared to 21.2 percent of users and 33.9 percent of non-users who disagree. However, when asked about the Internet�s actual influence on politics and government, the percentage of those who agree declines considerably. When asked if �by using the Internet people like you can have more political power,� only 29.3 percent of users and 16.8 percent of non-users agree, while 37.3 percent of users and 48.9 percent of non-users disagree. Responding to the question, �by using the Internet people like you have more say about what the government does,� 23.9 percent of users and 16.8 percent of non-users agree, while 42 percent of users and 50.4 percent of non-users disagree. Finally, when asked if �by using the Internet, public officials will care more about what people like you think,� 27.8 percent of users and 20.9 percent of non-users agree, while 36.4 percent of users and 44.3 percent of non-users disagree. ^ ^ ^ ^ Steven L. Clift - W: http://www.publicus.net Minneapolis - - - E: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Minnesota - - - - - T: +1.612.822.8667 USA - - - - - - - ICQ: 13789183 *** Please send submissions to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** *** To subscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** *** Message body: SUB DO-WIRE *** *** To unsubscribe instead, write: UNSUB DO-WIRE *** *** Please forward this post to others and encourage *** *** them to subscribe to the free DO-WIRE service. ***
