Way Of The Internet example essay topic

Critique of Vote. Com By Dick Morris Christine Belden POS 4932 November 13, 2001 Being required to read books is not always something you look forward to in a class. Actually it's probably one the worst things you dread. Especially this assignment, I was honestly not looking forward to anything about this book when I was preparing to read it. And though the premise of the book is actually very relevant in today's day in age, I still felt like the information just could not be that important to me personally.

Even after reading the introduction I could not have been less interested in the book than before I began reading it. But then as I began to get into the meat of the book I found myself beginning to see how this book was about me. It is about the generation in which I was born and a generation in which the Internet will forever change. In the following paragraphs I would like to share my thoughts about particular chapters in the book in which I found the most and least intriguing. While reading the book I did find many points on which I found myself agreeing with, but I also did come to statements that were not so easy to support.

And these points will be the focus of my paper. The first chapter that I really found myself getting into and finding myself in total agreement with was chapter seven, "Campaigning To Win The Fifth Estate". Morris's basis for this chapter, and reasoning behind it is right on target. As our world evolves, so does the means of communication. As a faster more technically advanced Internet replaces television, people that have relied on television as their main means of communication will be rudely awakened to find they have much to learn about "Internet campaigning".

The first section speaks about the way in which internet campaigning will be completely different from traditional campaigning because it is entirely voluntary. Instead of politicians counting on the fact that we will be sitting in front of the television every night, they will have to design political messages that actually contain intelligent political thought. The way we have been spoon feed campaign messages through television commercials will no longer be a choice. No, we will now have the choice to find which information we want to read and which we choose not to. A whole new way to campaign will have to be brought into use.

So what is the next challenge facing our politicians? How to attract the voter? Political consultants and the like will have to develop innovative ways to attract and keep voters interested and fresh with new insights by the candidates. In many ways, as Morris puts it, "The problems a reporter or an editor face in getting someone to read a newspaper article are similar to the challenges of simulating an Internet user to click on a web site".

A positive for those with the difficult task of the previously stated problem, is that they will be able to target specific types of constituents much easier. A television ad targeted for middle class parents might be placed in a television spot at 6: 30 pm during a news show, but you can bet other citizens not in that demographic will be watching that same spot and not be affected by it at all. That spot has reached its targeted audience but it also reached many others that did not care a pinch about what was being said. And as Morris mentions sites on the Internet are so customized that you know exactly who you are reaching when you place an ad on a, for example, financial planning web site.

Another aspect that will be a great improvement in our countries political arena will be the Internet's ability to redesign political communication to one that is more reciprocal. It is very difficult to be on the Internet right now and not interact with others on line. This type of interactivity will force candidates to listen to what citizens want to say. The campaigns that make these exchanges of thoughts most available will be the most successful. Another point brought up in the book that I really enjoy touches on the unity that the Internet will bring the masses. As stated by John De Maria the marketing director for Environments. com, numbers of people can contact their congressmen on specific issues, but our isolation adds to our powerlessness.

When our voices are added together though, by way of the Internet, we will gain importance and force those we want to reach listen to us. The Internet will give the voter a voice like nothing has before. There was more than one chapter in the book that was a little hard for me to swallow, but swallow them I did. One in particular that really did not settle well with me at all was the statement that Congress is losing its power, and that that is just how the cookie is suppose to crumble. Even if it is a fact, I don't like it. Congress was one of the few elements that our country was based upon.

Yes, and I do see the conflicts between the two branches, but isn't there a way for us to salvage these institutions? Or does no one care anymore about tradition? I honestly hope that this is not what will happen when Internet campaigning takes over. All these views and thoughts about this new and innovative way of communicating honestly trigger many thoughts. I am very excited about the prospect and am a little weary as well. We can only hope that this turn in voting styles will benefit the voter, that it will give us a voice we have never had before and strength that we deserve.