My premise is that, as Aristotle defined citizens in a democracy, citizens govern and are governed in turn. It is too easy to see the way technology can improve how citizens are governed. We must work hard to ensure that information technology improves the ability of citizens to govern. I think it will. The Minnesota Legislature broadcasts floor sessions and some committee hearings, as does Congress.
Television technology enables citizen oversight of the government in important new ways.
As cameras become cheaper and smaller, it will be easier to install them in all hearing rooms. With Internet-based streaming video technology, we will not face the problem of limited channel capacity limiting our ability to transmit simultaneous hearings. The Senate has talked about this technology but has not implemented it. There will be a time when a citizen at home, work or school will use the Net to look in on any congressional or legislative hearing that concerns her. She will also be able to call up stored records to view what we said and how we said it, at her convenience.