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Darren Waters

Obama and the online Town Hall

  • Darren Waters
  • 26 Mar 09, 15:59 GMT

As I write, President Barack Obama is engaged in an

Barack ObamaHe's speaking in front of a live audience, while the meeting is also broadcast on the net, and on some TV channels.

He's answering questions from the invited audience, and also responding to questions put to him online.

As I look now, 92,000 people have left more than 100,000 questions on the subject of the economy alone.

It goes without saying that there will not be 100,000 answers to those questions. So is there any point at all in this exercise at all?

The use of questions is being powered by an online tool called Google Moderator. It lets people suggest questions, and then vote on which questions are the most valuable in order to find trends and consensus.

More than 3.6 million votes have been cast.

So is this an example of democracy in action in the networked world?

Like any democracy it depends on the quality of those who engage, and the quality of the majority.

It also depends on how and when this exercise in democracy is used and to what extent those in a position to be influenced by democracy in action actually listen to the voice of the majority.

One of the most popular questions from the online audience, and most voted upon questions, was around legalising marijuana in the US and whether this would improve the economy and job creation.

I wondered if President Obama would choose to respond to this example of democracy in action. And he did.

"This was a fairly popular question and I want to make sure it is answered," he said.

He added: "The answer is no. I don't think it is good answer to grow our economy."

So an open and shut demonstration of democracy in action? Not quite.

He also said - somewhat tongue in cheek - in reference to the popularity of the marijuana question: "I dont know what this says about the online audience."

So while he responded, he also slightly dismissed the nature of the very audience he claimed to be answerable to.

Again I ask: Is this a model of enlightened democracy in action in the networked world?

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    Democracy has been questionable for some time. Who is kidding who? Since when has the government worried about offending the public, it seems as if so many positions have been enforced upon we the people that we now just roll over and now take our licks. The government takes care of it's responsibilites, now why would we think that letting government take over troubled entities would help the US. If any one is fortunate to win money, Uncle is right there to get it's share or more before any one else is considered. That's democracy, (government by the people, what people?). If ever the government would give us the whole truth, maybe we would feel more comfortable about the things that go on in WASHINGTON DC. Why doesn't the government do more for the majority (middle America). Let's see democracy exercise equality of rights, opportunity, and treatment. Make us feel part of instead of the punished. Another thing, why don't government policy maker's live off the same SS that the population does, it's called equality. Okay present Administration /

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  • Comment number 2.

    It is a bit disturbing that President Obama continues to laugh off this legitimate question as foolish and unimportant when it is an obvious concern of American citizens. The question deserves to be answered in detail just like any of the other questions that he answered during the public forum.

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  • Comment number 3.

    Regarding the marijuana question. Even if Obama had the will to carry out the request the US govt (and most other western govts) cannot legalise marijuana. This is because they have signed up to the UN treaty on drugs which states that they will not legalise drugs such as marijuana.
    Before we enter into a debate on marijuana and its status in various countries note that in Holland it is not legal but tolerated in small amounts


    Is the overall exercise Obama carried out a sign of a healthy democracy, Yes. Could he have been more discreet in his assumption of the profile of the questioners Yes.

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  • Comment number 4.

    Interesting that you picked this up Darren - there has been a UK website doing this kind of exercise since well before google moderator.

    www.yoosk.com

    I am co-founder of this site and we are also doing something based around the G20 summit this week:

    www.yoosklondonsummit.com

    You are right to say:

    'It also depends on how and when this exercise in democracy is used and to what extent those in a position to be influenced by democracy in action actually listen to the voice of the majority.'

    This is the key, but here in the Uk, what we are finding is that politicians do want to listen - the problem we are working hard at solving is, 'What is the best way to reach the people they want to listen to?'

    As for the question about marijuana and what it says about the audience - well it says that the audience is probably young and exactly the people he needs to be reaching.

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