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| The Next Big Thing? |
Our elections are pretty stagnant. All attention is on the current GOP primaries. It’s mostly the same old faces in a nominating contest that revolves around expensive television ads. Then it's a two-party contest in November – unless the phenomenon of digital democracy makes another splash!
To help give us a sense of where we're headed, here’s the timeline with the convergence of democracy and social networking:
New groups are trying to harness the tremendous organizing power of technology with efforts like No Labels, Ruckus, Votizen and Americans Elect. These are not Twitter or Facebook accounts augmenting slick and incessant television ads, but groups trying to break into the top ten of internet political hits.
I think Americans Elect is the most promising up and comer because they’re actually going to nominate a candidate for the ballot. They are doing the crucial groundwork of filing for the public ballot in 50 states. The group wants to engage people with an online nominating convention. This could result in a personality emerging that many voters identify with.
Google, Wikipedia and other tech leaders helped ignite a mobilization with the SOPA / PIPA issue. A presidential campaign can also capture the imagination and rally people.
To help give us a sense of where we're headed, here’s the timeline with the convergence of democracy and social networking:
Digital Democracy’s Greatest Hits:
2004– Howard Dean’s campaign for the Democratic Party presidential nomination. It's a seminal sound as Dean bolts to the front of contenders early by utilizing Meet-Up technology.
2008– Ron Paul is the conservative / libertarian version of the Dean campaign where supporters tune in via the Web.
These campaigns are insurgent within the two major parties. It's Punk!
2008– Obama For America (OFA). Barack Obama is an establishment candidate finding his groove by declining public financing. He uses a blend of social media and traditional private contributions while his GOP challenger goes old-school; taking only government funding to be badly outspent and lose.
2010 - TEA Party conservatives engage social media for mid-term election organizing. This is a minor hit.
2012– January SOPA / PIPA blockbuster protest where corporations (profit and non-profit) help mobilize web users to kill anti-piracy legislation in Congress as fast as a hyper-click.These are the biggies so far. I believe it’s just a matter of time until something huge breaks that brings in the new wave of democracy.
Guess who’s not on the roster of up and coming bands? Yes, the crusty Democratic and Republican parties!* They're still tuned into the golden oldies of state funded primaries and ritualistic caucuses.
I think Americans Elect is the most promising up and comer because they’re actually going to nominate a candidate for the ballot. They are doing the crucial groundwork of filing for the public ballot in 50 states. The group wants to engage people with an online nominating convention. This could result in a personality emerging that many voters identify with.
Google, Wikipedia and other tech leaders helped ignite a mobilization with the SOPA / PIPA issue. A presidential campaign can also capture the imagination and rally people.
Americans Elect are currently leaders with presidential primary reform and that itself gets them close to joining the list of hits above. The effort is rooted in the digital age notion of social networking so don't be surprised if many start humming along to this new tune as this election year unfolds.
* (I don't count OFA because it’s a brand mostly independent of the Democratic party.)
More reading on this: By Any Other Name - It's Party! Krist Novoselic, FairVote Blog 29.6.2011