AlterNet: The Rise of Open-Source Politics

“Whether you’re a Democrat in mourning or a Republican in glee,
the results from election day should not obscure an important shift
in America’s civic life. New tools and practices born on the
internet have reached critical mass, enabling ordinary people to
participate in processes that used to be closed to them. It may
seem like cold comfort for Kerry supporters now, but the truth is
that voters don’t have to rely on elected or self-appointed leaders
to chart the way forward anymore. The era of top-down
politics–where campaigns, institutions and journalism were
cloistered communities powered by hard-to-amass capital–is over.
Something wilder, more engaging and infinitely more satisfying to
individual participants is arising alongside the old order…”

Complete
Story