Online Retail

In the introduction of Technology, The Internet, and Progressive Politics, the author states "In my experience, it seems that many progressives prefer personal retail politics to the more impersonal wholesale politics involved in modern campaigns. Many progressives tend to shy away from business and marketing approaches -- sometimes for good reason, but in most instances not. Other progressives avoid technology because they tend to equate the means of technology with the ends. While this is always a danger, it is not a necessary outcome."

This observation, while stereotypically true, does not take into account the decentralizing power of the internet. Watkins claims that progressives like personal retail politics better then wholesale politics; Watkins then states that progressives avoid technology. The internet, however, is more like retail politics, the only difference is virtual. The targeting and decentralizing power of the internet is much like a retail experience, you can browse for what you want, ask questions, and compare prices...

NOTES TO PONDER: Why is it that progressives have not grasped technology that is so common to their political preference? Are retail politics better enhanced by technology then wholesale politics?