The Internet is amazing.  Every day it seems we find more reasons to use the Web. Shopping, travel, education, entertainment, and banking are some of the most popular uses; and now access to government has become even easier with the help of the Internet. 

Not too long ago, if you wanted to access your government to get a license or apply for a permit, for example, you would have to physically go to City Hall or another government building during regular business hours. Today, you can visit a virtual town hall using your home computer and download forms, review laws, apply for a license, and even pay your taxes online at any hour. You can even reach out to your local and state leaders and contact them via e-mail. A simple search with an online search engine will connect you to your state legislator (in the search engine enter your state name plus the word legislature and then navigate the site to find your lawmaker). Congressional members all maintain Web sites making it convenient for you to contact your representative, or somebody on staff.  http://www.thomas.gov/ (named for Thomas Jefferson) is a Web site from the Library of Congress that serves as a one-stop-shop for anyone looking for information about the U.S. Government.

As Americans, accessible government is part of our democracy, and taking part in the political process is an important component. Who we elect can impact our taxes, energy policy, laws, education, and health care. Thanks to the Internet, we can pay attention when it is convenient for us and not miss out on valuable information just because we missed the nightly news. The electronics evolution in politics began in 1952, when an advertising executive convinced Dwight Eisenhower to utilize television in his presidential campaign. The medium moved beyond political novelty in 1960 with the now-famous Kennedy-Nixon debates that were seen by more than 70 million viewers. Television was certainly the first electronic medium to provide the type of mass access necessary to the busy life of the modern person, but the Internet has taken this availability to a whole new level, particularly when it comes to elections.

The Internet first played a role of significance in the 2000, and then the 2004 elections. Citizens could, and still can, access financial reports related to campaign contributions, political party Web sites, and other news related to any candidate. The candidates began to utilize the Web for fundraising as well as grassroots support building, and most of them used their own sites for touting their virtues to the voters. And now, it is the 2008 presidential election that has seen the Internet really take off as a legitimate means of supporting the process. The presidential candidates staff and maintain a Web site that make donating quick and easy, complete with the latest candidate news and professionally produced videos. What’s more, most of the candidates have posted profiles on MySpace, and other social-networking sites.  Political party’s Web sites offer more than enough information about their issues and platform. Blogs, interactive chat areas that are updated more frequently than Web sites, are playing a major role as well. These sites are used to spread a particular candidate’s message; and independent citizens can use them to wade through all of the information that is available. You may recall the televised debates during this presidential primary season that included citizen’s questions asked on video, taken from the popular YouTube.com site.

With all of this information available it is especially important for politicians and citizens to be aware of how information is used, where it comes from, and where it can end up. In the 2006 U.S. Senate election in Virginia, it is widely accepted that the incumbent was on the defensive and ultimately lost his seat after a YouTube video showed him making a racial slur. That same year saw a Rhode Island school board candidate vilified for her pictures and comments that were found on a social-networking site. Even though the pictures did not display criminal activity or lewd behavior, they were enough to cast doubt about her judgment. That candidate withdrew from the election.

The Internet has certainly made government and the political process more accessible. This openness has created an environment where a tremendous amount of information – filtered and unfiltered – is available. The immense volume of information available requires more time and energy for us to process. At the same time, convenient accessibility to candidates and the ease of participation in the process demand added responsibility for our actions and comments. Remember, what you post on the Internet stays on the Internet, and whether you are a candidate for public office, applying to college or for a new job, online information can be used against you. We are all citizens of Cyberspace, and  i-SAFE stresses good cyber citizenship. Use the Internet to make the best decisions possible about money, travel, health, and of course, government and politics.