Infrastructure, but no Interest

The article I'll be referring to can be found here:

http://gizmodo.com/5958141/america-people-are-googling-who-is-running-for-president-right-up-to-the-end?utm_campaign=socialflow_gizmodo_facebook&utm_source=gizmodo_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

As the Gizmodo article points out, many voters weren't sure who was running for President until the very last minute. On the one hand, this is a kind of good news in the sense that people are apparently not paying attention to those filthy political ads. On the other hand, perhaps they'll pay attention to them more because they aren't aware of what is going on.

Regardless, the article is interesting primarily when observed in tandem with Levy's and Purdy's articles. Specifically, the idea that the infrastructure is already more or less available for people to come together organically. The internet's many user forums are proof of that, and if that's not enough, the 'net is rife with programmers and users just itching for a challenge. In this case, perhaps creating a more efficient or attractive method of coming together, as Purdy and Levy posit in their articles.

The problem is that most people apparently do not care to. For whatever reason, people seem to do the bare minimum when it comes to participation. This is perhaps a result from the traditional methods -- two established parties, the old media practices, etc. -- which evokes uninterest in most people. Despite this apparent phenomenon, there is another in the sense that the voting public is somewhat dissatisfied with with the traditional methods. By this reason alone, it seems fair to say that if it continues to ferment, inevitably some sort of action or reaction will take place to address it.

Though it does not seem to be that time quite yet.