BBC -Web 'fuelling crisis in politics'

Posted by Michael Lenczner on Nov 17, 2006; 6:52pm
URL: http://civicaccess.416.s1.nabble.com/BBC-Web-fuelling-crisis-in-politics-tp756.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6155932.stm

I think the most polite word for this is "malarky".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6155932.stm

"Mr Taylor said Mr Blair's online grilling from voters - and other
initiatives such asenvironment secretary David Miliband's blog and
Downing Street's new online petition service - showed the government
was making good progress in using the internet to become more open and
accountable.

But he said more needed to be done by the web community in general to
encourage people to use the internet to "solve problems" rather than
simply abuse politicians or make "incommensurate" demands on them.
....

"The internet has immense potential but we face a real problem if the
main way in which that potential expresses itself is through allowing
citizens to participate in a shrill discourse of demands."

I have sympathy for our public officials trying to figure out how to
use the web.  It's not easy.  But characterizing citizens for being
"shrill" when they speak up?  Especially given the confrontational way
the British Parliament office approached TheyWorkForYou for two years
before they supported the project?  jeesh.  Good things this guy is
outta there.