Politics 2.0

In the aftermath of the expected, but nevertheless brutal defeat of the Republicans in the 2006 midterm elections, I predict we are turning the corner in American politics, a trend that may influence the way campaigns are run, candidates are selected, policy is made, etc. for the next generation. In order to properly understand these changes, it is vital to have a bit of context on the 2006 race. It is my supposition that November 7 was not the endorsement of the Democrat agenda, Nancy Pelosi's leadership, or anything of that sort, but purely a rejection of the Bush administration and the ineptitude of the Republican Congress over the last 8 years (I trace it back to Dennis Hastert's ascension to Speaker).

The country is still split in half. The United States Senate will be 49-49-2 (with independent Joe Lieberman and socialist independent Bernie Sanders caucusing with the Democrats). It is hard to imagine a scenario more divided than that. The Democrats will hold a razor thin majority of fewer than 20 seats. Rigid party discipline will be required for the Democrats to accomplish anything in either House, and chances are, the Democratic leadership in both houses will find difficulty in maintaining such discipline in the wake of the Democrats' success. That is the funny thing about politics in its older iteration, though. Majority parties have much greater difficulty with party discipline than do minority parties. Minority parties understand that only by being the united Loyal Opposition can they have any influence over the making of policy. Members of Majority parties, on the other hand, know that they can play kingmaker, especially when things are close. It is nothing less than extortion. It is the kind of behavior pulled by the moderate Republicans in the Senate on a frequent basis in order to gain increased influence, committee chairmanships, etc. This is not likely to be any different for the Democrats.

So here we are, in the new era of Politics. I will be uninventive and call it Politics 2.0. Perhaps it should be called Democracy 1.0--because that is where we are headed: the first true manifestation of genuine participatory democracy in the United States from campaigns to policy. This progression will be uniquely enabled by the advent of new technologies on the web, shifting attitudes toward traditional media, and a shift of paradigm in the hearts and minds of Generation Y, who are coming of age and taking their stands. There is an unseen buildup of pressure under the surface of American politics that is about to blow its lid. Perhaps it will be in 2008, or perhaps later than that. This remarkable shift towards a more genuine democracy, a more pure ideal of governance will be predicated primarily upon two tipping points, and I believe the first will lead to the second: 1) The grassroots seize upon the advent of Web 2.0 technologies to create a new political dialogue and dynamic across the country and 2) The recognition by politicians and policymakers that they must embrace technology to better enact the principles of democracy.

I am going to be starting a spinoff blog just about Politics 2.0. It is time for the people of this country to fundamentally change the way the government is run, rather than swinging the pendulum constantly between two equally undesirable options. Gen Y and Web 2.0 will make this happen.