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Virtual Country examines the current nexus of technology and western democracy, pointing to a historical opportunity for We the People to evolve our democracy to include a new public institution that enables a coherent, collective voice on the issues that affect us all. The book's centerpiece is a proposal for a new online institution for citizen reengagement-the National Town Square. The Square would be a transparent, citizen-led, noncorporate, nongovernmental, nonpartisan online venue for individual advisory voting, moderated discussion, and fact-verified education on issues selected by citizens themselves. Virtual Country also examines the surround issues and risks associated with allowing the influence of big money in politics to be extended to online democracy. A must-listen for anyone interested in both the risks and opportunities presented at this historic moment in democracy's evolution.
About the author
Richard Lang is a pioneer in the technology industry. He is founding CEO of Go-Video, co-inventor of the world's first dual-deck VCR, founding CEO of Burst.com, and inventor of "burst technology," which helped enable true video-on-demand. He is founding CEO of Democrasoft-developer of online, collective decision-making tools. Richard has been a guest on MSNBC's
Dylan Ratigan Show, and was featured by
Good magazine as a key influencer of "Future Learning." He was a presenter at the World Cultural Forum in Hangzhou, China, speaking about online collaboration strategies.
Virtual Country presents his vision for empowering citizens in the 21st century.
