Mannesmann AG unit Omnitel Pronto Italia SpA, the number two cellular network, offers wireless surfing at five European cents a minute, less than half the cost of an average phone call. Telecom Italia also plans to lease out hundreds of thousands of personal computers with Internet access to its Internet service, TIN, for about 20 euros a month plus phone charges. The online version includes a narration by rock star David Bowie. In the three weeks since the opening, the Web site has registered 7 million users, compared with normal traffic of 2 million users a month. Deliberative democracy has been criticized as being unfit for the 21st century.
Direct democracy purges Politicians from the process.
Ornstein says this ought to scare us to death. While the Internet has provided us with Congress' Thomas system, the Congressional Record, hearing transcripts, bills and research reports, the ability to raise money for candidates on the Net, and the opportunity to start issue-advocacy campaigns online, it will also enable us to bypass, downgrade and ultimately debase the Framers' institutions. Politics Republican Conference Chairman J.C. Watts recently sent a letter to his Republican colleagues in the House of Representatives concerning the Internet. Americans who are online, or 'wired,' represent a vital audience to be engaged, not an isolated segment to be ignored. Rep Watts suggested that members update their sites daily when possible, provide visitors with a way to sign up for e-mail alerts and make sure they link to other Republican sites.