Lindsey W
Blogs: when people in America think of democracy, they think of freedoms, and rule by the people. One of our freedoms is free speech, blogs allow us to write down our own thoughts and by using internet based blogs, it allows other people to access those thoughts and comment back. This is one way that we use our democracy. The internet allows people to communicate is much faster ways, therefore increasing knowledge and the thought process to many more people than it would have through television, radio and print methods.
The younger generation has really lifted blogs to a new level and many believe that the internet and personal blogs will change the face of government and in turn, change they way people think of democracy.

Blogs are a ways of expressing views on various aspects. This way, people are able to discuss their thoughts on public affairs with a variety of individuals. It is a medium for the people to voice their concerns. That is what democracy is about after all, the common man has right to have a say in the issues that concern us all there is a continuous flow of opinions

Using internet blogs is an expression of democracy. They provide a unique opportunity for people to communicate their individual opinions. There are thousands of blogs that are accessible on the internet. They discuss a myriad of issues, and offer a free way for people to discuss their opinions. While most blogs are in relative obscurity, news channels such as CNN have daily recaps that show what people are posting. As the internet becomes a bigger part of campaigns and a more important way for people to garner information and news blogs are enjoying greater respect.

Just think is a program for students in which they can experiment with different media. They are allowed and encouraged to make films and take pictures in order to foster creativity. The democratic element of this program is in that school teachers and parents do not decide all of the program's activities. Citizens, including students, come together to regulate this program without a great deal of interference from the government. This allows students to create freely and have liberties as citizens.

Nicholas Walsh

Lessig mentions how citizen deliberation occurs in education by discussing the Just Think bus. This is a bus that goes around to help teach children about digital film and photography. Equipment that ten years ago would be priced in the ten thousand dollar range is now available for only a few hundred dollars. Because of this thousands of children are able to learn “media literacy” by interactively “tinkering” with the equipment. This exercises democracy by allows children who normally would not be able to, to experience modern technology and learn the communication of tomorrow.

Rene Chandler
NOT WHITNEY

A teacher in a school of underprivileged children created a class in which students expressed their views through images found on the internet. Instead of making them work on a topic they were not interested in, the project revolved around the subject of gun violence. Students who used to have problems with attendance were now coming to school early and leaving late, just so they could work on this particular school project. Because they were so passionate about this subject, it was easier for them to more clearly express their views on society and public issues through the use of pictures. This is an example of democracy because even young children of low social status are able to freely argue their opinions on pubic matters.

Kristen Cone

The act of blogging entails people using pictures or graphics, as well as words, to state their own opinions on a subject. Due to the nature of blogs, some people could be offended by material discussed. However, blogs are exercising the freedom of speech. They also discuss many different subjects, some of which could be viewed as inappropriate. Lessig said earlier that with the development of the personal Kodak camera people had the right to photograph what they wanted to photograph. This is similar to blogs in that by created a blog, people should be given the right to post what they want and discuss whichever topics they choose. Bloggers have the right to post pictures and media for other users because they, like the users of the Kodak camera and the students learning creativity through Just Think, have the right to discover new things.

John Killough Wangel
RHE 306 Hyojin Han
March 26, 2007

Reading Quiz.

In chapter two of Free Culture, Lessig mentions education, blogs and the internet as forms of democratic influence. Lessig’s examples concerning blogs seemed to have the most democratic influences. In blogs, the creators and writers are able to directly exercise their freedom of speech and thought by making public journals. Lessig mentions that after September 11th the world of media exploded into the scene of democracy. Now, more than ever before, the media and internet along with blogs have a great influence on the political scene. Through blogs people are able to post their concerns and opposition to such issues as Iraq, gay rights, and abortion. Citizens are able to argue contest opposing points while also posting their opinions. Although these blogs may not be read by government officials, the basic points are often represented in the media that in turn pressures the government and the actions they take.

A blog is a clear representation of democracy due to the fact that it is direct opinion from a citizen. Through blogs, people can express their opinions freely and not only voice their own opinions but deliberate on ideas. This is due to the fact that blogs can act as a forum because anyone can choose to comment and agree or disagree with someone. There are many examples of blogs that specifically cater to you standing on politics, such as blogs of people on FOX News or other news organizations.

1. You can see Democracy on the Internet; people often express their opinions. This is one of the only ways that people in the masses can all individually voice there ideals. Public opinions poles only capture a specific issue. On the Internet, you can come form any number opinions and have whole pages of text and pictures to express your concerns. I like this show of equal opinions being heard and that is what democracy is. The government of the people.

Ben Holland
The rule of democracy in internet blogs more openly than anywhere else because of the direct comment and flow of opinions involved in this action. The nature of blogs is that people exchanged their deeply opinionated ideas on the internet and these blogs are then commented on by others who are as opinionated. When ideas collide like this, they often change and form a partial compromise of ideas, if not a complete one. It is this compromise of ideas that furthers along democracy and represents the democratic values of a blog.

Brett Luskey
Free Culture Ch 2 Mere Copyists

Democracy is the rule by the people and more specifically to deliberate on public affairs. The Internet has been a great source for people to deliberate on public affairs. It is fairly recent but lately presidential candidates have been able to post information on the internet, and any ordinary person can contribute their opinions on the internet. The internet, as the book says was very instrumental in response to the September 11th attacks. It was covered on TV and people were able to express their opinions on the internet, either through pages filled with picture slides, or just web pages with written comments. This has allowed people all throughout the world to post work simultaneously and be able to read a wide range of opinions and pick out the topics that interest the readers. The book says that September 11th was the start to the tremendous amount of posting on the internet because so many people wanted to voice their opinions and the internet was the easiest place for people to do so.