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    Wednesday, February 6


    If you had asked me whom I would want to see write a blog more than anyone else, it would be Dave Hancock - brilliant, savvy and well... his best wisdom doesn't fit in 30 second soundbytes. A blog would be very much his style. Well, he has decided to take some time to share what he's seeing knocking on doors in Edmonton-Whitemud - visit him at blog.davehancock.ca or on Facebook (Dave's a friendly guy, I imagine he would be willing to let you be his friend).

    From today's post: "One of my passionate beliefs about the political process is that the most important role of an MLA - any elected person for that matter - is to spur discussion. Public policy and the public good benefit from forums for discussion and active participants."

    I find it neat how our political discourse is increasingly being done online - and while there is certainly a debate to be had on whether the impact is positive or negative - I am glad all of the political parties and for the most part the media see the benefit of this medium. Of course people like Ken, Dave, ES and Blake have been there for awhile, and I hope they see the actual change they've influence and really led in our province as a result. It makes me wonder on March 4 what we will say would have been different if there was no internet...

    Labels: ,

    posted by Duncan @ 8:27 PM  

    5 Comments:

    • At 10:21 AM, Blogger Toby said…

      We had a discussion about thin in my class last semester. Does online political discussion really matter? Does anyone change their opinion based on something they read online? Or is it just a lot of preaching to the converted?

      Sadly I find most blogs and on-line discussions to just be partisan/ideological hot air. Liberals reading liberal blogs to puff themselves up and vice versa.

      I do think there is some real debate going on out there, though. I think I changed my mind on Ontario's PR referendum based on some intelligent (and lots of unintelligent) stuff I read out there, and there are some intelligent blogs I like to read.

       

    • At 7:22 PM, Blogger Quynn said…

      I think Toby raises some excellent points regarding the usefulness of most political blogging or online political discussion - i.e. it isn't.

      To me, however, it's a lot like attending a party convention (minus the hospitality suites. Most of the activities/conversation is incredibly repetitive, boring, by rote etc. but if you look for it, you can find people whose insights are very rewarding and conversations that are more than worth your while. But sifting the sand to get gold both at conventions and online can be tedious and pretty frustrating at times... :)

       

    • At 7:03 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

      "We had a discussion about thin in my class last semester. Does online political discussion really matter? Does anyone change their opinion based on something they read online? Or is it just a lot of preaching to the converted??

      I change and base my opinion on EVERYTHING that is internet based. I don't watch the news, read a paper or even really have much interest to look over paper dropped in my mailbox. I read my news and blogs on the net and thats all I am interested in or have time for. I like a good online discussion and I base my opinions on businesses, people, employers, employees and candidates on their web presence and savvy (which also demonstrates a connection to "the people" and an understanding of technology).

      I don't think that I am alone in this - I think that most people my age and younger are the same.

      "I think Toby raises some excellent points regarding the usefulness of most political blogging or online political discussion - i.e. it isn't.

      Useful to who? I think candidates and political campaigns that think this way are outdated and playing the wrong game. You think perhaps that most people who vote are old people who are going to go to the polls anyway no matter how you try to communicate with them. This might be mostly true in Canada but that will only work for the next few years. Check out how campaigns are waged in the USA - they would never dream of having a candidate without a web presence! Then decide that you can make an effort to attract the votes of the next generation.

       

    • At 7:08 AM, Anonymous Web2.0! said…

      It's all about Web2.0! If you can't interact with your constituents in this manner than get out of the way!

       

    • At 11:24 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

      Hello. And Bye.

       

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