The Marxian Cell Phone

The Economist article, as highlighted by many of my classmates, focuses on the Digital Divide as simply part of the overall problem of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. In fact, many economists say that the growing unequal income distribution gap is THE major problem facing the world.

It is important to note that the conflict between the haves and have nots has existed for centuries, if not longer. Perhaps highlighted best by Karl Marx, these class conflicts (which are now global conflicts instead of just national conflicts) stem from individuals who own the modes of production and individuals who actually do the producing.

Though I do have some qualms with the Economist suggestions about the power of cell phones, I'm glad they could come up with an answer that wasn't Marx's "bloody revolution."

NOTES TO PONDER: Can there be a cell phone revolution that will help to equalize income distribution? Does Marx's emphasis on ownership of the mode of production explain some of the digital divide?

The Domestic Digital Divide

Some of my classmates have discussed the international Digital Divide. One important thing to discuss, however, is the national Digital Divide. As someone who works with the internet and politics on a daily basis, I can tell you that internet audiences are almost exclusively upper and upper middle class citizens (including younger generations). One thing to always remember is who your internet audience is.

Myself and four other young politicos put together a campaign plan for the Mississippi gubernatorial race in 2003 between Barbour and Musgrove. Because Mississippi is one of the poorest states in the Nation and is almost one third black, our most targeted voters were citizens who rarely accessed the internet. Therefore, our campaign plan included and website that targeted our national audience instead of our targeted voters.

This campaign experience demonstrates the digital divide in national politics. In this particular campaign, the internet was tertiary to other methods of voter outreach. The digital divide is as much a domestic issue as it is an international issue.

NOTES TO PONDER: Will the digital divide only make it harder to reach lower and lower middle class voters? Will these voters only be further excluded from the political process?