[Sosfbay-discuss] Al Gore on Democracy in trouble?!?

[Gerry Gras]

I was surprised by what Al Gore said in his speach.
"American Democracy in Trouble", subtitled
"It is no longer possible to ignore the strangeness
of our public discourse".

This message from a former Democratic candidate for
President?  I wonder what Nader would say.

First paragraph:

"I came here today because I believe that American democracy is in grave 
danger. It is no longer possible to ignore the strangeness of our public 
discourse. I know that I am not the only one who feels that something 
has gone basically and badly wrong in the way America's fabled 
'marketplace of ideas' now functions."

Last paragraph:

"The final point I want to make is this: We must ensure that the 
Internet remains open and accessible to all citizens without any 
limitation on the ability of individuals to choose the content they wish 
regardless of the Internet service provider they use to connect to the 
Worldwide Web. We cannot take this future for granted. We must be 
prepared to fight for it because some of the same forces of corporate 
consolidation and control that have distorted the television marketplace 
have an interest in controlling the Internet marketplace as well. Far 
too much is at stake to ever allow that to happen.We must ensure by all 
means possible that this medium of democracy's future develops in the 
mold of the open and free marketplace of ideas that our Founders knew 
was essential to the health and survival of freedom."

Gerry