DW: US DNet Goes National (FWD)
DEMOREP1 at aol.com
DEMOREP1 at aol.com
Mon Oct 5 12:28:00 PDT 1998
Another story showing that internet technology is making the entire current
election system rather quickly obsolete. How soon before there is direct
internet democracy (DID) by ALL of the voters for lawmaking ? Thus, the
necessity to get election reform methods becomes more obvious.
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Subj: DW: US DNet Goes National
Date: Mon, Oct 5, 1998 10:48 AM EDT
From: clift at PUBLICUS.NET
X-From: clift at PUBLICUS.NET (Steven Clift)
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Reply-to: clift at PUBLICUS.NET
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------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1998 04:15:06 -0800
To: amadaras at cgs.org
From: "Mark W. Taylor" <mwtaylor at cgs.org>
Subject: DNet Goes National
Reply-to: mwtaylor at cgs.org
********************************************************************
DNet Goes National : www.dnet.org Covers All 50 States
********************************************************************
At 6:00 AM, PDT a new era in American Politics began. At long last,
the promise of the Internet - to provide voters on-demand access to
high quality information about government and politics - has been
fulfilled.
"Democracy Network's national launch marks the birth of a new
political paradigm-- one where voters can get their information
directly from the candidates, in the format they want, when they want
it," says Tracy Westen, President of the Democracy Network. "DNet
makes the promise of the Internet a reality by bringing a nation full
of election and government information into a single, easy to navigate
site."
"Before DNet, voters only direct communication with candidates was in
the form of paid television advertisements or mailers. DNet was
designed to make it easy for voters to communicate directly with
candidates," says Area Madaras, Director of the Democracy Network.
"DNet's format encourages candidates to offer detailed and informative
statements about their positions rather than negative statements about
an opponent. And it makes it easy for voters to find and review this
information. DNet takes the work out of becoming an informed voter."
DNet's signature feature is the candidate grid-- a single page that
provides voters access to every candidate's statement on the issues in
a campaign. Voters can also search for one issue across multiple
elections. A new feature, the Issue of the Day, allows voters to
review issue debates in other states. Where grids are unavailable,
DNet provides links to reliable sources of information.
Tom Grubisich, Managing Editor, Digital City/America Online, was
attracted to DNet because of the wealth of information it provides
coupled with its ease of use. "DNet is a crucial component of our
mission to provide online coverage that will not only keep people
informed about political races and ballot questions in their states
and congressional districts but give them opportunities to help shape
the agenda of issues."
Dr. Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins, President of the League of Women
Voters, explains why the League of Women Voters Education Fund has
joined with DNet to create sites in seven states. "Voters have told
us they need in-depth, nonpartisan information on voting procedures,
election materials and candidates and we are providing that with the
latest in online technology. By providing this information online, the
League is guaranteeing that all citizens can quickly access complete
information to make informed decisions - whether they work third shift
or long days in the law firm."
DNet has won numerous awards for its pioneering role in the area of
online public affairs information. It is expanding its award winning
coverage across the United States with the help of its partners the
League of Women Voters and the Earth Pledge Foundation.
Becky Cain, Former League of Women Voters President, stated "The
Democracy Network project offers a wonderful opportunity to use new
technology to enhance the democratic process. We were so impressed
that the Board selected the project for a Leadership Award in
recognition of the innovative use of interactive media."
********************************************************************
Press Availability:
********************************************************************
Tracy Westen, President, Area Madaras, Director and Mark Taylor,
Project Manager of DNet will all be available for comment on Monday,
October 5, 1998 between the hours of 10 AM and 1 PM, PDT.
Please call (310) 470-6590, ext. 120 for more information or comments.
********************************************************************
Foundation Support:
********************************************************************
DNet is only possible because of the generous support of the following
organizations: The Florence & John Schumann Foundation, The Wallace
Alexander Gerbode Foundation, The John & Mary R. Markle Foundation,
The Carnegie Corporation, The Nathan Cummings Foundation, the James
Irvine Foundation, the HKH Foundation, The MacArthur Foundation, The
Joyce Foundation, The Ford Foundation, The Rockefeller Family Fund and
The Open Society Institute. We sincerely thank them for their ongoing
support and making this national launch possible.
********************************************************************
Democracy Network Address:
www.dnet.org
********************************************************************
DNet is an innovative new tool developed for the World Wide Web to
enhance public discourse and encourage fairer elections. It offers a
wealth of election information directly to the voter. Using DNet's
unique Remote Updating System, candidates have free and unfettered
control of their information and can debate each other publicly over
the Internet. DNet is a project of the Center for Governmental
Studies, a non-profit, nonpartisan, public-policy research group that
works to improve the processes of media and democratic
self-government.
For more info, contact:
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Mark W. Taylor
Project Manager-- DNet
10951 West Pico Blvd., Suite 120
Los Angeles, CA 90064
310.470.6590 x120
www.dnet.org--mwtaylor at cgs.org
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Steven Clift - E: clift at publicus.net - ICQ: 13789183
3454 Fremont Ave S, Mpls, MN 55408 T:+1.612.822.8667
Web White & Blue, Project Coordinator - Consulting
http://www.webwhiteblue.org - http://www.publicus.net
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