[Previous entry: "Psychopaths succeed in modern society"] [Next entry: "Most smart people believe society is insane"]

11/09/2007: "Political illusions created by "freedom of choice""

Freedom of choice is not always good for democracy. This observation is at the heart of University of Chicago law professor Cass Sunstein's book "Republic.com 2.0" (an update of "Republic.com" in 2001), which argues that our country's political discourse is fracturing in the information age. Sure, the Internet has been a boon to democracy in all sorts of ways, Sunstein acknowledges -- but if new technology gives us unprecedented access to information, it also gives us more ways to avoid information we don't like. Conservatives are increasingly seeking only conservative views, liberals are seeking only liberal views, and never the twain shall meet.

[ We're balkanized, because our society is founded on the idea that we don't have to share any values except money and "freedom." ]

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/11/07/sunstein/index.html