Technology, specifically the Internet, will transform democracy in the future, Congressman Chris Cannon, R-Utah, said Monday, April 5.

The four-term congressman spoke to students and the public at Utah Valley State College as part of the college's yearlong Democracy Project.

Cannon said the Internet will cultivate democracy in its best sense by creating forums for public speech and rallying people together on issues of importance.

"The most important single application for information technology today is in how people govern themselves," Cannon said. "Although what I am suggesting sounds simple, it will change your life."

Using the presidential campaign of Howard Dean as an example, Cannon said Dean and his supporters used the Internet to reach people in unprecedented ways.

"A significantly huge group of people with a very narrow set of interests almost created a presidential candidate for a major party," Cannon said.

Dean reached the masses through special interest Web sites, online forums and e-mail. Other presidential candidates are now following Dean's lead and using the Internet to educate voters, generate support and help volunteers coordinate activities, Cannon said.

"It is absolutely clear that both presidential campaigns are working very hard at being able to reach out to people," he said.

Cannon addressed the credibility issues surrounding information on the Internet. He said this problem will work itself out over time as legitimate interest groups and knowledgeable people publish their views on the Internet.

Cannon also said the Internet will help in campaign reform by encouraging small campaign contributions from many people. This will enable ordinary people to participate in democratic processes often dominated by rich corporations or the media.

"This is what will make America a great democracy and keep us ahead of everyone," Cannon said. "America is the hope of democracy for the rest of the world."

Steve Lutz, chairman of fire science at UVSC, said he thought Cannon made a valid connection between democracy and technology. A hundred years ago, a candidate could not reach large groups of people because mass communication did not exist. Newspapers facilitate democracy but the Internet should be an even bigger tool, he said.

"It is obviously the wave of the future," Lutz said. "This is a way to tie people together."

Cannon is a staunch supporter of technological innovation and development of the Internet for political and business purposes. He said he has been "bashing heads and breaking fingers" over a bill he is sponsoring in Washington that will ban Internet access taxes nationwide. He hopes this effort will make the Internet more affordable and available to all Americans.



Copyright Brigham Young University 5 Apr 2004