- (TS) VoxPolitics.com followed the 2001 General Election very closely. Conservatives + Liberal web sites have not changed (well content but not design). Local political sites disappearing to be replaced by blogs, seen as more rewarding.
- European election site has Flash games etc.
- VotesArePower.com
- Hot or not German politics site
- No mention of SMS this election but was in the GE
- Everyone wants viral marketing, William Hague pacman, fake Michael Howard CV, all pretty rubbish except for the BNP efforts.
- Trend is less stuff built for elections.
- Meetup.com not being used in the UK
- More civic coding in UK, more party political in the US
Richard Sargent - Member of Gov think tank. Lots stats and things. I'm not sure of conclusion, need to involve people more? Somehow?
(TS) Why do MP's exist at all? Used to be because London was too far away. But that debate hasn't even happened.
Big unveiling of theyworkforyou.com.
Reagan and Thatcher was a good representation of democracy because they were booted out when their time was up. their power was muted by the government process. Democracy is important. Trying to reconnect parliment with "us" the people.
Parlimentary debates used to be secret.
Nothing has changed much in the last 200 years, big books of what has been done.
UK Gov dumped the books on the web, too much to do.
TheyWorkForYou.com is an open source parser and database for Hansard. Built something on top of it. They put it live during the talk! Finds your MP by postcode and gives lots of data. Can link to debates. Very cool. Lots of linky blogs. RSS feed for your MP! VEry VERY COOOOOL!
