Bruce Springsteen for President!

          When our son Jon was around eleven he was so great a Bruce Springsteen fan, he bought his brothers tickets to a Springsteen concert. I don't know where he got the money. His gift wasn't altruism. He needed a ride to Hartford. They had a great time. "Bruce", as they called him, gave good value. He was on stage two and a half hours

          A few months later Jon and I were deploring the tendency of celebrities to turn tricks for advertisers. Jon said Bruce would never be a huckster and he would not lend his music to that job. I said, "They'll make him an offer he can't refuse. He'll go down like the rest of them". What can I say. I'm a cynical utopian. Jon, just as certain, said, "Not Bruce". More than twenty years later Bruce remains standing. He kept faith with a kid he didn't know was alive. That's presidential in my book.

           Bruce Springsteen is a metaphor for what we need. Any public, non-political figure, male or female, who demonstrates integrity-Jon Stewart of the Daily Show, George Carlin, Michael Moore, Oprah Winfrey, and, yes, Al Sharpton-come to mind. They can save us from political parties filled with strivers who sink to any level to get elected. Today's presidential candidates don't choose a shirt without convening a focus group. We need candidates we can get behind, keeping our fingers crossed about issues.

           The Internet permits an electronic, non-hierarchical political party provided we create a technology that permits online decision making by millions of people. How, for example, do we choose a name for our electronic party? Can we reach consensus on line? Can we trust computers to moderate large discussion groups. If so, can we figure out a way to do it?

             I wouldn't be surprised if somewhere, someone works on the problem. It seems a natural for open source programming, but I wouldn't hold my breath. When money talks, idealism falls silent. See, for example, my troubles with open source. We need people familiar with the technology with more than standard generosity. A tall order? Not for a utopian.

           We also need to fix the election process. Electronic voting machines with secret operating systems provide too great an opportunity for fraud. Some say we need paper trails. I'm not sure how paper trails work. Does every voter bring their receipt someplace to get counted therely verifying their electronic vote? A better way uses verifyable electronic voting machines. Linux with open source voting software should do it.

             I don't know if anyone will take arms against our sea of troubles. Enormous problems encourage us to put our heads in the sand and hope this too shall pass. With so many people disenchanted with the system, and with people who see democracy as a choice of evils, the time may be ripe. As I've said, I'm technologically challenged. If you have suggestions or a different way to go, let's talk about getting the ball rolling. This land belongs to you and me. It's time to take it back.