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		Adventurer
 
  
  Joined: 28 Jan 2006
 
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				 Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 7:19 am    Post subject: Americans embrace politics online | 
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				E-mail this to a friend   Printable version  
 
 
 
Americans embrace politics online  
 
 
 
Americans turned to net during 2006 mid-term election campaign 
 
Americans are increasingly using the internet as their primary source of political news, a study has found. 
 
The report from the Pew Internet and American Life Project also found that more people are contributing to political debate via their own blogs. 
 
 
While it stops short of claiming the net has politicised Americans, the report sees a growing online influence on how people think about civic issues. 
 
 
The prevalence of broadband in US homes is one reason for the growth. 
 
 
Nearly half of US homes now have a broadband connection and the internet is playing an increasing role in daily lives. 
 
 
"Turbo-charged" activism 
 
 
 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6272431.stm | 
			 
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		Ya-ta Boy
 
 
  Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994
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				 Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 1:21 pm    Post subject:  | 
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	  | It offers a variety of perspectives,"  | 
	 
 
 
 
Where's the evidence that people are LOOKING at a variety of perspectives? I'd put money on the majority just looking at the internet sources that confirm their previously held beliefs. | 
			 
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		Nowhere Man
 
  
  Joined: 08 Feb 2004
 
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				 Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 1:32 pm    Post subject: ... | 
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				| That's what's so great about our little forum. | 
			 
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		Adventurer
 
  
  Joined: 28 Jan 2006
 
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				 Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 5:24 pm    Post subject:  | 
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	  | Ya-ta Boy wrote: | 
	 
	
	  
 
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	  | It offers a variety of perspectives,"  | 
	 
 
 
 
Where's the evidence that people are LOOKING at a variety of perspectives? I'd put money on the majority just looking at the internet sources that confirm their previously held beliefs. | 
	 
 
 
 
 
You make a very good point.  Tom Fenton made that point as well, that he was worried that people would simply read what spoke to them.  People do that anyway and journalists and the media don't pretend to be non-biased like they used to, so many things are partisan anyway.  With the internet, though, you can easily read the perspectives of dfferent people from around the world and if you are confused about something you can read different historical perspectives and try to get a better idea of it.   Is it worse than the status quo? | 
			 
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