In 2008, the growing number of Americans actively participating in democracy through the Internet is making headlines around the country. The presidential campaigns have mobilized unprecedented numbers of supporters online, and the net roots are exerting ever more power in educating and organizing citizens across the political spectrum. As the founder of OneWebDay, I am delighted by these developments.

It’s no coincidence that the theme of 2008’s OneWebDay is online participation in democracy. After an election season that has seen so many people get involved in the political process, the goal is to keep those citizens tuned in and make their next project supporting the infrastructure that made their participation possible: the Internet. The fact is, four years from now it may not be as cheap or easy or fast or safe for Americans to do what they did this year unless we make the Internet itself an issue.

In the coming months and years, Congress will face critical decisions about the future of the Internet in American life. Phone and cable companies are pushing for policies that would allow further segregation of Internet users based on where they live and what they can pay. This could disenfranchise tens of millions of Americans at a moment when access to the Internet is becoming essential. For example, several states have experimented with Internet voting; it won’t be the exclusive method anytime soon, but it’s the direction many are advocating. At the same time, governments at all levels are moving citizens towards the Web to pay fees, apply for permits and secure vital services through e-government initiatives. And of course, electronic communication is the medium most members of Congress prefer from constituents in the wake of the anthrax attacks of 2001. There are also the well-known problems of a growing digital divide and the commercial surveillance and targeting of online users based on their browsing habits.

The Internet is becoming as vital to our civic health as the environment is to our physical health, which is why Earth Day was my model when I founded OneWebDay in 2006. Back in 1969, Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson turned to the people, asking them to advocate for the environment when government would not act; that movement put our natural environment on the political map. On OneWebDay, September 22, Americans will gather in communities across the country for town halls and rallies and workshops and join the grassroots movement to preserve an open and accessible Internet. Many will be joined by enlightened elected officials, whose numbers will no doubt swell as this movement grows.

To see what’s happening around the country, including in Washington, DC, go to http://onewebday.org.

This entry was posted on Sunday, September 21st, 2008 at 9:00 am and is filed under Uncategorized .