cover image Electronic Republic: 0reshaping American Democracy for the Information Age

Electronic Republic: 0reshaping American Democracy for the Information Age

Lawrence K. Grossman. Viking Books, $24.95 (304pp) ISBN 978-0-670-86129-3

Former president of NBC News and ex-CEO of the Public Broadcasting Service, Grossman believes that new, interactive telecommunication technologies are transforming the U.S. into an ``electronic republic'' with greater direct citizen participation in politics. In his analysis, faxed petitions, E-mail lobbies, 900-number telephone polls and online networks are giving ordinary people a greater voice in the making of public policy. In this scenario, citizens, by using a combination telephone-videoscreen computer, will participate in audio-video phone calls to candidates as well as tele-debates and electronic town meetings; people will vote by tele-computer on election day and make their views known daily regarding laws, agendas and priorities; national referenda on pressing issues could be held easily by putting an electronic keypad in the hands of every voter. Grossman argues that a vigorous multimedia forum in every community could improve the quality and seriousness of political debate. His searching, optimistic analysis gauges the far-reaching implications of new information technology for the democratic process. (Aug.)