These services include electronic mail, which means the ability to send private messages electronically to people across the world who also have electronic mail boxes. The public alternative to this is a service called Usenet News. This service is an example of James Mill's democratic principles. Usenet News consists of many newsgroups which each cover a broad, but yet specific topic. People who utilize Usenet News typically pick certain newsgroups or topics to focus on.
Every group has several items of discussion going on at the same time.
The discussions are very active and provide a source of information that fulfills James Mill's cri- teria for both more oversight over government and a more informed population. This means that everyone can both contribute and gain from everyone else's opinion. The importance of Usenet News also exists in that it is an improvement in communications technology from that of previous telecommunications. The computer network is an advance in that it is easier to store, reproduce and utilize the communications. It is easier to continue a prolonged question and answer session or debate.