Jay's First DailyKos Post

It's big, it's orange, it's a bit crazy, it's DailyKos.

Today Jay posted his first diary on DailyKos. He also stayed around for an hour and chatted with a number of visitors. The diary discusses the role of the internet and politics, here's the text:

I'm Jay Buckey, and I'm running for US Senate in New Hampshire. Since this weekend is YearlyKos, I’d like to talk about what sites like DailyKos mean to our political system. Thomas Jefferson noted that democracy depends upon an informed and educated populace. Recent history has shown us how skillful marketing and advertising can misinform us and lead our political system off track. But the past few years have also shown how political blogs can correct errors, highlight important information, and expose deceptions.

Sites like DailyKos, MyDD, and others present a vibrant discussion, reminding us of the days when most American cities had multiple newspapers that offered a variety of different viewpoints. Youtube provides a net-based soapbox from which anyone can speak, just like the real soapboxes of days gone by. Perhaps we are getting back something we have lost.

To keep this going, however, we have to maintain freedom of speech on the internet, and keep the internet democratic. Not every blog or internet-based company that gets started is going to be successful. But they all deserve an equal shot. The internet has been a great leveler in both political discourse and economic development. It can hold companies and politicians responsible for their actions. It gives Americans access to a wide range of information and products. We must preserve net neutrality, so that success on the internet isn’t based just on who has the most money, but on who can be the most creative, innovative, and dynamic. Also, we need to ensure that everyone in the country can get access to broadband internet. Internet access is becoming essential for economic development just like telephone service or electricity or good roads. Areas that don’t have broadband internet access risk becoming economic backwaters. In the 1930s we had a program for rural electrification that brought the economic benefits of electricity to isolated farmers. In the 1950s and 1960s we built the interstate highway system. We need similar programs for some rural areas today to ensure nationwide broadband access.

Broadband access and net neutrality are going to be key for our economic growth. Also, they will help to fight the disproportionate power of wealth in our political system. The net has fueled the campaigns of political newcomers across the country, including a number who took office in 2006. We will use the internet extensively in our campaign--we're starting with a blog and videos incorporated directly into our website to discuss the issues.

I'll be online for the next hour or so to talk, so if you have questions or comments post them here. I'm looking forward to meeting many of you at YearlyKos and the Netroots Candidates Celebration.