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October 26, 2006
Forget it... they ain't coming
Over the past 4 years, I've spent a lot of time trying to encourage MPs, councillors and candidates to join the online community in an open, responsible and sustainable manner.
By and large, this time has been wasted. Pissed away. And do you want to know why?
Because your average MP, councillor or candidate is far too concerned about what's in it for them and/or too fucking stupid to understand what's in for them... even when this single aspect is explained to them in detail.
There are also complete dickheads like Mike Chambers and Dennis Paul who see weblogs as a way to spread anonymous smears and/or pass off positive comments that they've written about themselves as genuine contributions.
Nothing new here; representatives from all parties use fake or 'independent' contributors to pepper the letters page of the local newspapers with this view or that... and I'm fed up to the back teeth with it all.
I'm equally fed up with the information gap that exists between the partisan crap spewed out by local representatives and candidates, and what actually gets reported in the local/international media.
Weblogs are the perfect way to fill that gap... and there is a pronounced need to fill it.
Take my shiftless, witless, lying and deceitful MP as a prime example.
There's a whole lot of crap that she'd get away with clean if there weren't someone to keep an eye on her, and I am not the only constituent with this problem.
It's a job that needs doing... and there aren't a hell of a lot of people around that know how to do it. So I'm going to teach them.
In 2005, the folks at the New Statesman blamed the lack of development on a general malaise in the sector.
They were wrong; the malaise is in parliament.
By and large, MPs have no interest in offering added accessibility, accountability and transparency... so it's up to us to deliver it on their behalf.
Watch this space.
[Note for Developers - If you are one of the many developers who expressed an interest in the Political Weblog Project and you disagree with this view and/or wish to carry on independently, please get in touch and I'll make sure that MPs who do give a damn know how to find you.]
Posted by timireland on October 26, 2006 4:10 PM in the category News
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