InstaGov/introduction/getting worse
Recent advances in technology – most notably in the area of communication and information management – have provided opportunities for the powerful to tilt the balance even further in their favor. The US Constitution was a significant step away from authoritarianism, but power-interests have managed to render much of it ineffective, rolling us all a long way back toward something resembling feudalism – the ultimate authoritarian government. For example, media consolidation is a large part of why the Bush takeover has been so effective: once-trustworthy news programs and outlets are all owned by the same few people whose agenda does not include integrity.
Fortunately, we still have the opportunity to use those same tools against them, since they haven't yet figured out how to stop us – although they are trying to, and will eventually succeed if we don't get our act together.