So I am currently working in NYC at the NYCPP (which by the way is a wonderful organization…google it). Love working in the city, its great but it means a very long commute. This gives me lots of time to think. So I was thinking yesterday about my blog and jotting down some ideas. I realized that the political world is really evolving around my generation and the social media. More specifically twitter. Now, I follow Barack Obama and several other politicians and political people on twitter and I find their “tweets” to be very interesting. It was even said that one of the reasons that Obama won the election was the way that he reached out to the young voters via facebook and twitter. It seems to me like every politician is following his lead. I think that’s great (as long as their not using it to release inappropriate photos coughweinercough)! My generation really needs to become politically aware and not just watch Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and SNL for their current events but rather find more credible sources. It is becoming easier and easier to be politically aware with the advancement of social networking and technology. Which means that there are less and less excuses for NOT being politically aware.
Think back to the days of George Washington…this was a time where there was no facebook, no twitter, no television, NO PHOTOGRAPHS. The people did not even know what their president looked like unless a painting was “leaked” (no nude photo scandals in this era…President Washington would have had to sit for hours naked to have his portrait painted and then have someone ride horseback to take it to the townspeople…anywayssss). Then there is FDR, what a guy, who hid his paralysis from the American people. Can you imagine that?! Can you imagine an election where there are no televised events and you do not know what the candidate you are voting for looks like!?
Okay, I’m getting off topic. Back to twitter…I just think it is incredible that we can receive daily updates from the President (okay his press secretary) about what is going on in the world. You can follow your Congressperson or Senators and keep track of what is going on in YOUR state. It’s no longer just the New York Times and Wall Street Journal providing our news but rather twitter and facebook as well. We are entering into a new era of politics.