Real change happens off-line

By contrast, Internet activism is individualistic. It's great for a sense of interconnectedness, but the Internet does not bind individuals in shared struggle the same as the face-to-face activism of the 1960s and '70s did. It allows us to channel our individual power for good, but it stops there.

This is great for signing a petition to Congress or donating to a cause. But the real challenges in our society - the growing gap between rich and poor, ... Full Story »

Posted by Chris Finnie

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Chris Finnie
3.6
by Chris Finnie - Oct. 1, 2008

While Kohn is right about the limits of online activism, and the need to move to the next level, I do not agree with her that it is actually happening in growing numbers--especially among the demographic she identifies. I'm seeing my generation (baby boomers) get angry that the future we thought we worked for is disappearing before our eyes. That and retirement is moving some of us back to the activism of our youth. But the young people I've seen try to get involved mostly get discouraged by how hard it actually is to effect change, and they get overwhelmed by how tough it is to balance activism and survival. Most drop out pretty quickly. It's a shame because the future we're shaping now will be theirs to cope with. But I also don't think it's accidental. The GOP would rather that the only people who have the time and energy to engage be old and rich. Those are, after all, their core demographic.

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