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Brian J. Weller answers the following question

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Question

How can the Internet as a global informational tool that criss-crosses entire continents, serve to enhance our own communities? mSTELMACKER


Answer

Brian J. Weller: Okay, this is a great question. Firstly, how, by being free from government and corporate control. By sharing best practice for local approaches to protecting our land culture food. Things like that. Now, this is a cool idea. Empowering local democracy through really secure local voting. This is something I think really needs to be looked at. Because if you think about enhancing local communities, I mean the number one, the number one thing is the need to empower local democracy. You know, fewer and fewer people are voting and I think technology could have a huge part to play if we could secure proper locally controlled, Internet-based voting. I know there’s a lot of concern about that in America right now with companies like Diebold and others, because there’s been all kinds of concerns about vote rigging. But I’m sure there are ways, actually, of really having a safe and reliable and secure way of doing that. So, I think promoting local democracy and particularly making local democracy more responsive on a day-by-day basis rather than having to wait every two years or four years to have our voice heard. I think if more of us were having our voices heard even on a daily basis about what we want and don’t want; giving our priorities to our politicians and having those counted, having those votes counted and our voices counted; I think that would have a huge impact on local decision making in communities. Look out for virtual country.