Customer Reviews

Electronic Republic: Reshaping American Democracy for the Information Age

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This book provides a great deal of insight into the impact polling and the internet have/can have on our political processes. One of his most important points is: what good does it do to have a public who can participate in the process on a whim and with ease when that public is still not educated about the issues involved? These are issues we should all be concerned about and carefully consider as the internet in particular grows in importance to us and to our political participation. Is this trend towards reliance on the media, instant polling, internet feedback really a good thing? This book provides us with the tools to find the answer ourselves. A great, thought provoking book who's issues should be carefully weighed as we consider voting over the internet and reliance upon public opinion polls.

Few books on "wired" subjects focus as intensely as this one on the content of electronic media and its impact on democracy. Grossman gives compelling suggestions for reinvigorating democracy by improving the delivery of information and the involvement of citizens through electornic communications. Very well-written and instructive with plenty of suggestions for further reading. Fascinating review of the parallel history of democracy and the media in this country, as well as the earliest democractic institutions in ancient Athens.