I blog and I vote.

New media is changing how the powers that be operate. The development and increase in popularity of blogging, social networks, Wikipedia and Youtube has empowered us, the voters, and has Governments running scared. 

The minimal effort involved in posting, editing and uploading opinions to the internet is being utilised by the masses. Anyone can voice their opinion and if it is interesting or entertaining enough it can be seen by millions within a matter of hours. 

This brings with it an air of excitement as the voting public can respond and retaliate to the decisions of their Government in a manner that can actually have an effect. The physical protest is being superseded by this online model and it has the potential to go anywhere. 

Facebook and Twitter have both been adopted by political members to get in touch with a younger market but do you really think Wayne Swan cares that I had a ham sandwich for lunch? Of course not, it is simply a tool to look "cool" and derive votes from those who are stereotyped as not caring about politics.

The advancement of new media will continue to be used by politicians, their respective parties and the voting public to manipulate each other and I personally find this both exciting and liberating. Vote 1 for freedom of speech finally reaching its potential.