Replies

Just to take these quotes apart piece by piece...

but the re-establishment of a genuine democratic discourse in which individuals can participate in a meaningful way - a conversation of democracy in which meritorious ideas and opinions from individuals do, in fact, evoke a meaningful response

I would like to know about any time in our history when we had more or even close to the freedom of democratic discourse as we do now. This implies we've lost discourse. The fact that we are here discussing Algore's book shows that discourse is alive and well.. What this should translate is that Gore wants his side to control discourse...

"I would like to know about any time in our history when we had more or even close to the freedom of democratic discourse as we do now. This implies we've lost discourse. The fact that we are here discussing Algore's book shows that discourse is alive and well.. What this should translate is that Gore wants his side to control discourse..."

Bingo. Gore is correct that the Internet opens up discourse in a very democratic way - we've known that for years - but, as the author points out, the Internet does not guarantee that "the rational mind" and "logic" will prevail. The author also makes same rather sophisticated philosophical arguments against Gore's Cartesian worldview.

And you are correct that the subtext of Gore's argument is that somehow the modern media cheated him of his Divine Right to the presidency by allowing uninformed and irrational forces to prevail. This overlooks the inconvenient truth that a clear majority of those very media supported Gore. As do all libs, Gore bestows Godlike power on Fox news and Rush Limbaugh to somehow override the combined influence of all the liberal media. Ironically, it is Gore who is highly irrational and swayed by uncontrollable emotions.

What this should translate is that Gore wants his side to control discourse...

Exactly. The leftists see it as a failure of democracy and discourse whenever people are free to discuss and critique their views. The only legitimate "democratic discourse" is when people are spoon-fed leftist conclusions and alternative ideas are restricted.