Our friends at Open site.org (http://open-site.org/blog/social-media-election/) have provided us with a new graphic as show below:
While we have been users of social media ourselves since 2009, it is interesting to note the explosion of use since the last presidential election.
Will the use of social media influence the results?
Quite likely in my view.
The group that harnesses this form of communication the most should have an edge in the presidential race.
From my own libertarian perspective, given the candidate choices we are presented and as we discussed in an earlier blog post Political Math Proves Romney = Obama, will it matter much?
While we have been users of social media ourselves since 2009, it is interesting to note the explosion of use since the last presidential election.
Will the use of social media influence the results?
Quite likely in my view.
The group that harnesses this form of communication the most should have an edge in the presidential race.
From my own libertarian perspective, given the candidate choices we are presented and as we discussed in an earlier blog post Political Math Proves Romney = Obama, will it matter much?
George Washington warned us about political parties in his Farewell Address.
ReplyDelete"The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.
Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.
It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another."
Washington argued that political parties needed to be restrained in a free country with a government empowered by the consent of the governed and established through popular elections. He warned of the possibility fearing they could distract the government from its required duty to the people and even lead to the eradication of the freedoms established by the founding.
Unfortunately, it is way too late to restrain the hunger for power in today’s political parties; it has been enculturated.
America is at the mercy of two powerful political parties. If a strong candidate wants to get elected to office in this country, one usually needs some affiliation to the major parties.
We see from history that third party forays are limited in strength and often serve only to undermine one or another of the major parties in the capacity of a “spoiler.”
If Washington could see America now, probably the only thing that he could say after getting over the shock, would be: “I told you so!”
Be well PW
An excellent summary of our current dilemma Bill!
ReplyDeleteWhat think you the solution to this dilemma?
ReplyDeleteRight now, both political parties have sold out to special interest groups inimical to the the American People.
ReplyDeleteThe Democrats in the recent past have presented themselves as the party of farmers and the working man and labor unions. They have instead become shanghaied by radical extremist groups - gays, PETA nuts, environmentalist wackos, communists, socialists and Aztlan freaks among others.
The Republicans in the recent past have represented themselves as the party of patriotism, pro-American interests, traditional values, and of free enterprise.
They have been taken over by extreme free-market capitalists,one-worlders and globalist corporate interests whose primary loyalties are not to America, but to profit at any price.
We need and deserve an alternative to both these pandering monstrosities.
The fact is to honor the will of a political party over and above the Constitution of the United States equates to an act of treason. Take note, we have “Republicans” and “Democrats” in Washington DC. Where did the Americans go? We need to send American Americans to Washington DC and all public offices if we want to take back this country.
An American American is not a Republican American, not a Democrat American, not a Libertarian American, not Green Party American or any other political party American. To be an American is to honor the American’s Creed and to be loyal to America above and beyond the loyalty to any political association. That is what being an American American is all about.
I am afraid there are too few American American's remaining as you describe Bill. Perhaps hard times will come to refresh our collective memories as to what really matters, and that freedom isn't free.
ReplyDelete