QotW8: Adopt a local politician…

How has the advent of the Internet changed politics? Can the Internet truly create democracy? Why isn’t there Internet election voting? Why does Stephen Colbert get to have his own ice-cream while I don’t?

Here’s the Question of the Week (QotW):

1. Adopt either a Singapore politician who blogs or a local blogger who discusses politics.
2. In a cohesive manner, share the following about your adopted blog (where possible):
   1. Blog’s Title and URL
   2. Blogger’s Name (or Pseudonym)
   3. Blogger’s Occupation (politician or citizen blogger)
   4. Blog’s Date of Birth (look for the first post)
   5. Technorati Rank (see explanation)
3. Discuss the tone of this blog (e.g. highlight key conversations, readers’ comments, etc).
4. After doing all this, turn to “Does the Internet create Democracy?” (2002) by Alinta Thornton, and ask yourself: Do blogs allow for greater democracy in Singapore?
5. Make a concise argument in 500 words or more (proper written English), supported with at least two APA-style citations.
6. Start the title of your blog post as “QotW8: _____”
7. Drop a comment here with a permalink to your blog post.
8. *Optional: Drop a comment on your adopted blog so they can learn about your post.

Deadline
24th March, Saturday, 5pm
(Warning: Late work will not be graded)

Required
• “Does the Internet create Democracy?” (2002) by Alinta Thornton (Web Site / Microsoft Word download)
• The politics of Singapore’s new media in 2006 (Dec 31, 2006) by Gerald Giam

Optional
• The Big Gamble on Electronic Voting (Web version / Print version)
• The Internet and State Control in Authoritarian Regimes: China, Cuba, and the Counterrevolution
• Click the vote
• Tank Man Roundtable discussion
• In YouTube Clips, a Political Edge