Does Politics in the Internet Always Make Sense?

By now, most people have heard of Russell Brand’s comments on the Iraq war. However, what some may not know is how influential he actually was in the media over the years. It is likely that this figure influenced a large number of people’s opinions before his statement came to light. In fact, Brand’s controversial comments made international news.

Brand made waves when he said that politicians only cared about themselves. This led to comparisons between politics and entertainment. Many commented that politics was nothing more than theatre. Media personalities immediately began criticizing Brand, declaring that he had lost his touch and was out of touch with the modern generation of politics and media. Even Sir Roger Clegg, who is often thought to be a moderate leader, publicly criticized Brand for his comments.

So why did Russell Brand cause so much media interest? First, his controversial statements were not actually original. He was merely repeating a popular belief that many people hold. Most political pundits agree that there is a great deal of corruption in the current government. Many people blame public interest groups for their obstructionist tactics. Even though the groups do a lot of good, they seem to have a disproportionate effect on politics and the role of the media.

Another common complaint is that the public does not trust politicians. The belief that politicians are out to benefit themselves at the expense of the public is widespread. Polls consistently show that a large number of people do not believe that their elected representatives are honest. These beliefs are not supported by any solid evidence.

This type of political rhetoric can only be expected to increase as time goes by. One can only imagine the level of cynicism that would be expressed if an MP were to suggest that all cuts to the NHS were simply to pay the contractors. No one in his right mind would stand for that, even if it was true. Another example would be cuts to disability benefits. A person would not believe that was really the case unless he or she had first-hand information.

Another complaint is that politicians are too detached from the media. They sometimes get to the point where they cannot even look it in the eye. Journalists are often accused of “professionalism” and of catering to the whims of their corporate masters. Often it is claimed that journalists are part of an establishment whose only purpose is to feed off the public’s need for information.

Yet another accusation is that journalists have a socialist agenda. This is hardly true. Many of them are extremely accomplished researchers and writers. They are simply doing what they do best and that is to inform people.

There is one aspect of all this, which should not be ignored. The biggest problem is that we have entered a new era of mass communication. Everything that was previously communicated in one-to-one conversations is now being communicated in 140 characters. That means that politicians and journalists no longer know how to conduct a professional interview. As a result the public lose confidence in their politicians and the political process.

How can we make things better? There are two approaches that seem to work. One of them is to create a much more transparent media environment. That starts by giving the press more access to the politicians and the Cabinet. That opens up the questions of whether they really want the media scrutinized so much and how much they are willing to tolerate.

Another way is to create an environment where people can express their opinions. That can be done by ensuring that every candidate running for office has a website. The other approach is to find some common ground between the candidates. Then the candidates can meet halfway. This can be especially effective when the candidates differ on such issues as the size of government or the importance of ethanol subsidies.

We need a system that encourages people to get involved. The Internet has made this easier by making it possible for citizens to get information about candidates and then post their opinions and views. People need to read up on the history of their country and understand its institutions. They also need to know who their politicians really are and what they are trying to accomplish.

If people can get comfortable with the idea of playing politics through the Internet, they will certainly flock to it like bees to honey. Then the Internet becomes a self-sustaining vehicle for civic engagement. At the same time, we can ensure that the Internet remains a neutral platform. No one should be allowed to dominate. We need some amount of control over the messages we send out online.