Extreme Democracy, held on-line with a moderation assist from Texas Forums, may turn out to be the high point for me this summer. Last night though, I felt like the guy with the mouthful of pebbles trying to articulate an important point about the potential for experimentation in these new media. The discussion centered on Chapter 4 from the book: “Extreme Democracy, Deep Confidence in the People.” I wanted somehow to project my sense that experimental, disruptive, abrasive communication — maybe even ART — is required to transcend the boundaries of civility that lock us in the hierarchically ordered dominant paradigm of what’s permissible. I wanted to say that with an elitist power bloc dominant on the right, progressive and populist efforts will do well to break through some traditional boundaries that have been transplanted from Smallville to the web. I wanted to say that what’s nice doesn’t always work in the face of competition with jack-booted corporate thugs and an army of mercenaries.
What I did say came out sounding like “shwibble mung thipperent sort of rucka de mucka and, ummmm….” I’m not sure I hit the bulls eye.
Here are a few of links that helped illuminate the discussion last night:
The Origins of Totalitarianism
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