Out of curiosity, I was browsing campaign jobs the other day. Mostly for Obama and McCain, but also senators and advocacy groups. And then I came across this posting for a Web design job in support of Bob Barr. Bob Barr, who is he?
Oh, right. He's the Libertarian candidate for president in 2008, but you would never know. I think I follow a decent amount of politics and I didn't know who he was. Why?
After glancing through his Web site, I went to CNN.com to find out what was being said about him. Let's look at the candidates for president in 2008:
Ok, so that's just the Republicans and Democrats. And I get why CNN.com might just highlight those to candidates, given America's preoccupation with a two party system. So let's click around, get to Bob's page.
Not there. Apparently no political party other than the Democrats and Republicans exists. At least that's what CNN.com wold have you believe.
I am not in shock that Bob Barr is not getting constant coverage, but the fact that CNN.com does not even list (it is the Internet, there is unlimited space... )who the independent candidates is shocking. Utterly, shocking.
The Internet allows information to spread like wild fire. But, if most American's are going to the same online news sources, that information is still being filtered. Mainstream media still exists, even if in a virtual world.
No where in our constitution does it say we operate on a two party system. In fact, one of our greatest political minds, George Washington, warned against political political parties. But, we do have a history of not being able to admit we are wrong. Can anyone say Military Industrial Complex?
A test for YouTube and all that it implies. Mainstream media versus a free flow of ideas. Can the Internet break us out of a two party system and truly create an age of information for all? Or will it be stifled by mainstream media and money?
So the other day, I was trying to see if our little blog was even in the top ten results of the all-important google search. Below, you can see what exactly I saw...that's right, fourth listing down...a gay video review. As the great thinkers of our era, Seinfeld and Costanza would say, 'not that there's anything wrong with that'; it's just that we need a little notoriety to this thing, and how can we be taken seriously when the results above us are a Jewish teen boy experiencing an Italian summer of lust and a German gay porno called Sommergeil?
So, I was worried that this doesn't quite fit with the whole Summer of Lust concept. Then I realized, the ability for the gays to express themselves with porn movies (and for those movies to be featured so prominently) is as lusty as it gets. I don't have the slightest problem with the gay lifestyle. In fact, I'm happy for those who feel comfortable enough with their lives to express who they are (and who they want to do) to the world. It's just a little unnerving seeing the words "whopping uncut cocks" right above the words of genius that come from this blog.
As of June 20th, summer officially started. And so, then, has the summer of lust. But if you stop and look around, the country seems eerily silent for a period of claimed social unrest.
Where are the protesters? The uprisings? The riots? Already by this time in 1968 police had clashed with citizens and organizations across the country. Today, campuses across the nation are quiet with a generation of Americans who have always been called apathetic. Sure the violence and theatrics of the summer of love might not be present today, but this is the summer of lust and a culture of instant gratification.
Despite appearances, the protesters are there. The voice of opposition is ringing loud and clear. You will not find the modern demonstrator pouring into the streets, but rather flooding the virtual world. The Internet, the defining characteristic of a generation of Americans, has drastically changed how the people choose to let their voice be heard.
Why put in the effort into going outside, standing in blistering heat, becoming hoarse from making your point of view heard, dealing with crowds of people, and put yourself at risk with authorities when you can sit in the safety of your home in your underwear? I could be in my underwear right now. And I probably haven’t taken a shower.
The point is America has taken to their keyboard rather than the picket sign.
With organizations such as moveon.org and dividedwefail.org, grassroots has moved virtual. Moveon.org, who is backing Obama, has created a challenge to tell McCain and Bush Part Deux apart. They are using contributions from millions of people to advance their cause. They are creating television spots that are not only airing nationally, but are being aired on youtube.com, such as this one here:
The idea is to release the spots virtually, generate buzz, and then convince people to donate enough money to have it air on network television. It might seem a passive route for such a passionate call to action. Is this generation phoning in it's political activism?
According to the end of the above spot, over 3 million people contributed money to the organization. Now imagine 3 million people protesting outside the White House. One is more dramatic of course, but the sentiment is there. The opposition to the establishment is present and they would probably like to not be called apathetic anymore-- it hurts their feelings.
This leaves us at an interesting cross section, perhaps one more interesting than the one of 1968. Three points to ponder:
1. The new generation of Americans are babies. Society raised them with so many safety nets they do not really know how to fend for themselves, more or less succeed in a major political movement.
2. The new generation of Americans are shocked. They are experiencing for the first times in their lives a dim view of America. They grew up with economic prosperity, a quick, decisive win in the Persian Gulf, and the general idea that America was untouchable. Today, that idea is crumbling in the minds of the younger generation.
3. The new generation of Americans are virtual. Anything that their country doesn't provide for them or their parents didn't give them, they can get online. Education, protesting, sex, banking, research, sex, friendship (social networking), gambling, jobs and sex. It's all online at the click of a button. Instant gratification.
I think it is going to take a large event to get this generation into the streets. And it is going to be interesting to see how a virtual political movement plays out. And if and how the virtual protests with meld with in person clashed with authorities. Either way, summer is here and the heat is on.
Like a hot, humid day, the summer of 2008 has a building pressure that can only be eased by a storm. Racial tension, an unpopular war, and potential for environmental disaster are all contributing to a growing thundercloud. There's no doubt a system is brewing, and the only questions to be asked are how bad of a storm are we due for and what will happen once the dark clouds dissapate. No matter what, the summer of 2008 will be one to remember and it's our hope to tell its story...
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