Esther Dyson Interview - Mother Jones

Excerpt:
"MJ: Will innovative use of technology be the thing that brings politics to someone for the first time?

ED: Just as eBay turned people into active buyers and sellers, the new tools will turn people from passive consumers of politics into active participants. If you want to change something, you can start a campaign. And as people see more people doing that, they will realize: "Oh, I can do that, too." You will have the long tail of politics, not just the long tail of commerce, which is eBay. The long tail of politics is, "I can find out what my town dogcatcher is up to."

MJ: Do you see any pitfalls?

ED: [Candidates] have to tell the truth, because if they don't someone will call them on it. They have to spend more time listening and being responsive. With luck, I'm hoping that this will produce better campaigners and, ultimately, better government officials. Because they will be more accountable.

MJ: There has been a lot of discussion about the power of the Internet to hold elected officials accountable.

ED: Yes, but there is a difference between being held accountable for doing something bad and this stupid attack stuff—because you misspoke your mother's name and that means you must not love your mother. Let's grow up and pay attention to whether the candidate delivered what he promised. That's what accountability is."

http://www.motherjones.com/interview/2007/07/esther_dyson.html

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