Is the Internet good or bad for democracy?

Bad

1 of 2

by Krullix

Write now Print Invite a writer™ Add to Favorites RSS Feed Contact this writer

If democracy is made better through the empowering of individuals through information access then surely there is only one side to this argument. Afterall, how can anyone argue against the internet in terms of access to information? The World Wide Web is truly a global phenomenon. The idea of such an all encompassing information resource would have seemed like a pipe dream as little as twenty years ago. Now, in the space of an hour, I can find out the capital, president and GDP of any country in the world, discover the spelling and definition of any word in any language, book a hotel in every major city, buy a book, DVD or digital camera, play poker against international opponents, and still have time to find out the basic principles of origami, and all from the comfort of my own home.

As a freelance reporter the internet is invaluable. Without it I would be spending all my time on the telephone, or visiting libraries and public record offices, trawling through heaps of laborious paperwork. The internet has revolutionised journalism, as well as many other professions that rely on pain-staking and time-consuming research.

It has often been said that information is freedom, so, if this is true, the internet must now be seen as responsible for emancipating the whole of humanity from its shackles of ignorance. But one only needs to do some basic research, online, of course, to realise that far from creating a global population of well-informed citizens eager to mobilize politically, the widespread use of the internet has lead to increased apathy and a desire for non-action. As for the internet being a force for democracy, there is no evidence to show that the availability of information at everyone's fingertips has influenced western voting patterns, or indeed, empowered individuals. Instead, researching the most popular searches on websites such as Google, a picture is painted of a human race that is deeply insecure, confused and lacking direction. Almost all of the top searches in America last year were questions steeped in fear, uncertainty and anxiety, such as What is God?', Who am I?' and How do I kiss?'. What is perhaps a more shocking indictment of humanity is the top ten most popular news' searches of 2007. American Idol' came in at number one, with Britney Spears', Anna Nicole Smith' and Paris Hilton' being more popular than Iran', which came in at number nine. I have often pondered the question whether the mass media is responsible for bombarding the public with such mindless and mediocre drivel, or if there is a genuine demand by their readership for such trivial trash. Now, it seems, I have my answer. The majority of us are more interested in the banal lives of celebrities and gossip than issues that really matter and affect our everyday lives.

I cannot deny that the internet is enlightening and an essential tool for disenfranchised individuals whose voices were previously unheard. With the eruption of blogs, I can now read a firsthand account of what life is like in Baghdad, or be informed on the everyday injustices and human rights abuses the Israeli's are inflicting on the Palestinians. It can be argued that the recent public outcry over the treatment of citizens in Tibet by the Chinese was facilitated through web exposure. Sadly, however, the majority of us would prefer to watch a fat kid dance on Youtube, or super poke' an old acquaintance on Facebook, than use the internet for educational purposes. It could almost be seen as a form of self-regulation and mind control, with the population voluntarily dumbing themselves down en masse. The other obvious danger of too much internet usage is the social isolation, resulting in social dysfunction as individuals retreat to their computer desks at the expense of communal interaction. The effects of this will only become clear as the younger generation, who are avid internet users, mature to adulthood.

Regardless of the pros and cons of the internet, this debate topic is centred on its affect on democracy. To argue this point effectively, one must define what it is we mean by democracy. The basic understanding is of a political system which involves the population electing those they believe to be the most efficient at running their domestic affairs. In principle it would seem like the most favorable form of governance, compared to communism and fascist dictatorships. However, the system is far from perfect and, despite democracy being lauded by western power brokers as a moral and virtuous foundation stone of modern civilization, it needs some serious re-examination. In the UK a constituency seat can be won even when over 60 percent of the constituents voted against the eventual winner. In America it is invariably the candidate with the largest amount of campaign donations that advances to the White House. Is that democratic? The question is irrelevant as it is what appears to be democratic that is important. As long as the leaders of the world can convince the masses that everything is above board and fair, they will encounter little resistance. In reality, the powers that be don't care one jot for democracy and only espouse its value for public relations purposes. Although I'm not a supporter of Hamas they were democratically elected in Palestine. The choice of the people was not recognised by the USA and aid was immediately withdrawn. One only needs to look at the history of South America to realise that democracy is only supported if it coincides with western economic interests. Hugo Chavez, the democratically elected leader of Venezuela, has no support from America. Allende, the democratically elected leader of Chile, was the victim of a CIA backed coup in the 1970s, resulting in a brutal dictatorship led by General Pinochet, that had the full backing of the west. There are many more examples in Central America, and all over the globe, where America, with European support, have fought against democracy, while at the same time paying lip service to its libertarian principles.

And where can you find out more about these issues? The internet. But will it make a difference? It's doubtful.

Learn more about this author, Krullix.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.