Transcending party politics and the nation state via the Internet

In response to a Guardian article, "A sign of things to come", on the potential of the Internet to transform politics, by David Cameron (leader of the Conservative Party)

Link to article and thread at The Guardian.

We now have the freedom and the technology to transform politics and society to a mind-boggling extent, which I don't think Mr Cameron or many others are yet aware of.

Soon, once the appropriate software is available on the Web, whose of us who are ready for it will be able to "self-organize" - and we will need a lot more than just 2 or 3 political parties to accommodate our diverse ideas about the kind of society we want to live in. Not that we will want or need "politicians" to do it for us, anyway, but will do it ourselves - thank you very much, David!

Why should we continue to live in a "nation state society" with its LIE - even if steeped in centuries of tradition - of shared national identity, created in the middle ages to serve those in wealth, power and authority, which it still very largely does, but which on 7th July 2005 was visibly (for those with eyes to see) blown apart.

We will continue to live in this nation state for a while yet, of course, because we all depend on its power structures, along with the services and infrastructure they facilitate. They may leave much to be desired, and heavily favour those in wealth, power and authority, but we ALL depend on them nevertheless. A British passport, with all the perks and privileges that go with it - even for humble folk - is a very valuable document; which, of course, is why so many third world foreigners are so keen to get hold of one - and become "British".

It was mass immigration, primarily, that cracked and eventually dispelled my illusion of British identity. It was a long and somewhat painful process, but now I say good riddance to it, and all its symbols (the flag, the Queen, its sporting teams etc)! Not in hate or anger, but thankful, finally to be free (more-or-less) of the illusion that kept generations of my ancestors bound to a state (and what a "state"!) that functioned, not just, but primarily to facilitate their exploitation by a minority of their own, privileged, powerful and wealthy countrymen.

And so I have set off in search of a new - or rather, my REAL - identity (i.e. identities), which is slowly coming together. I've still some way to go, but soon (even before I know exactly who I am, or where I belong, myself - which perhaps I never will) I shall be looking for others I can and want to identify and associate with, to help build the kind of society (much fairer, more humane and sustainable than this one) that I want to live in.

My homepage: http://www.spaceship-earth.org

To: Comment at the Guardian Re: Transending party politics and the nation state via the Internet Date: Friday 24 November 06

In response to a Guardian article, "A sign of things to come", on the potential of the Internet to transform politics, by David Cameron (leader of the Conservative Party) Link to article and thread at The Guardian. We now have the freedom and the technology to transform politics and society to a mind-boggling extent, which I don't think Mr Cameron or many others are yet aware of. Soon, once the appropriate software is available on the Web, whose of us who are ready for it will be able to "self-organize" - and we will need a lot more than just 2 or 3 political parties to accommodate our diverse ideas about the kind of society we want to live in. Not that we will want or need "politicians" to do it for us, anyway, but will do it ourselves - thank you very much, David! Why should we continue to live in a "nation state society" with its LIE - even if steeped in centuries of tradition - of shared national identity, created in the middle ages to serve those in wealth, power and authority, which it still very largely does, but which on 7th July 2005 was visibly (for those with eyes to see) blown apart. We will continue to live in this nation state for a while yet, of course, because we all depend on its power structures, along with the services and infrastructure they facilitate. They may leave much to be desired, and heavily favour those in wealth, power and authority, but we ALL depend on them nevertheless. A British passport, with all the perks and privileges that go with it - even for humble folk - is a very valuable document; which, of course, is why so many third world foreigners are so keen to get hold of one - and become "British". It was mass immigration, primarily, that cracked and eventually dispelled my illusion of British identity. It was a long and somewhat painful process, but now I say good riddance to it, and all its symbols (the flag, the Queen, its sporting teams etc)! Not in hate or anger, but thankful, finally to be free (more-or-less) of the illusion that kept generations of my ancestors bound to a state (and what a "state"!) that functioned, not just, but primarily to facilitate their exploitation by a minority of their own, privileged, powerful and wealthy countrymen. And so I have set off in search of a new - or rather, my REAL - identity (i.e. identities), which is slowly coming together. I've still some way to go, but soon (even before I know exactly who I am, or where I belong, myself - which perhaps I never will) I shall be looking for others I can and want to identify and associate with, to help build the kind of society (much fairer, more humane and sustainable than this one) that I want to live in. My homepage: http://www.spaceship-earth.org