New at Reason

Julian Sanchez | December 7, 2005

Jesse Waker reviews two assessments, quaintly presented on pressed dead tree pulp, of how new media are changing politics.

Comments

|12.7.05 @ 5:05PM|#

"Will the Internet help us transcend government?� In some ways, it already has."

yeah tell that to county when you are waiting for your second year on a building permit.

The Wine Commonsewer|12.8.05 @ 1:02AM|#

The internet, innovation of the market, and technology is our only protection against the encroachment of the lime of government that is poured over men's souls (sorry, Ayn).

But, Josh is right, my dad is wrong. It isn't getting better, it is getting worse.

My motto, is don't ask, don't tell. Sorry, I didn't know I had to get a permit to install the new water heater.

A guy built a 5,000 square foot Mediterranian (sp)house down the hill from me. It's a nice place with a pool amd a lighted tennis court. What makes it interesting is that he never got a permit to build it. And nothing happened. It's had three owners now and once it was repossessed by the bank and re-sold.

|12.8.05 @ 6:28AM|#

Transcend government? No. It's simply a tool, like any other, that can be used in a variety of ways. I will say, however, that the producers and consumers of the internet are firmly against goverment regulation of the internet in general. As such a versatile tool, it can be used to work around the government on many levels, but I doubt it can ever transcend it.

It's only a matter of time before the internet is more regulated. Yes, there will be the occasional internet water-heater installed without a permit, but the vast majority of people will fill out the forms, pay their taxes and generally do what they're told. We should enjoy it while we can.

|12.8.05 @ 11:52AM|#

insurgents?

don't they mean the enemies of the legitimate american government?