You know, I think the internet is powerful in ways we don’t tend to think about much.
For instance, back in Hitler’s days, no one in Germany was allowed to listen to anything but the German (totally censored) radio station. People would be thirsty for news that were uncensored and lie in the dark under their blankets in bed at night trying to tune in stations broadcasting to them from other countries, such as Radio Free Europe.
One reason why dictators have gotten away with **** throughout history is because they always controlled the flow of information to their subjects.
With the internet, not only can people hear and see news from the rest of the world – they can even talk to people all over the world and get answers. And if you censor the internet, people have ways to get around it.
The control over the flow of information doesn’t work anymore. And the world economy is such that almost every country depends on the use of computers and computer communications. No one can recall the use of computers.
People like the folks in Iran can make up their own opinions now, and that is spreading more and more throughout the world.
The internet is empowering the common man in an amazing way, and it takes away one of the most powerful weapons governments can use against their people – the control over information.
Well stated, you should write for the New York Times. :wink-wink