Elites vs. Bloggers, Round 1

Every community has influential people. From politicians to wealthy socialites to the police chief, each of these "influentials" plays a major role in shaping public opinion in their community.

In the old politics, candidates scrambled to get the endorsement of the local influentials because it would be the talk of the town. Seeing a yard sign in the union leader's yard or hearing the minister at church talk about politics gave candidates an automatic leg up on the competition.

The Internet changed all that, however.

The internet is overflowing with influentials and opinion makers, according to Carol Darr. I would argue that it's not just that the internet is overflowing with influentials, but rather the internet allows anyone to become influential.

As the great equalizer, the internet removes barriers that have previously prevented the average joe from becoming influential. On the internet, no one cares how much money you make. They do not care how many employees work for you. Nor they care who your friends are.

Few people outside of Minnesota had probably ever heard of John Hinderacker, but he immediately became the darling of the MSM and right wing blogosphere when he unraveled "Rathergate." Claiming that CBS records implicating George W. Bush were faked, Hinderacker's blog immediately shaped public opinion and dominated the news cycle for that moment of the campaign.

Imagine the power when a 14 yearold kid in Wisconsin can have as large an impact through his blog as the local factory owner with the sign in his yard and a bumper sticker on his SUV? Instead of affecting the people in his direct community or state, an internet blogger could potentially affect opinion nationwide, as Hinderacker did. For too long, shaping public opinion has been the realm of the elites and large donors. The internet allows everyone to have a voice - and to become influential.