With the growth of the electronic republic, Congress, too, will change the way it operates in important ways … Senators and representatives will be able to vote, debate, and even participated in caucuses, committee meetings, and hearings without setting foot on the floor of the chamber or in the meeting rooms of the Capitol. With computers, keypads, teleconferences, and videophones keeping them in touch with Washington, they’ll find themselves able to spend more time at home, close to their constituents … Many may even be able to live at home instead of moving to Washington … If current trends continue, Congress would evolve into a deliberative body that organizes inquires and hearings, develops information about issues, and makes decisions after receiving instructions from its constituents.
Predictor: Grossman, Lawrence K.
Prediction, in context:In his 1995 book “The Electronic Republic: Reshaping Democracy in the Information Age,” Lawrence Grossman, former president of NBC News and PBS, writes: ”With the growth of the electronic republic, Congress, too, will change the way it operates in important ways … Senators and representatives will be able to vote, debate, and even participated in caucuses, committee meetings, and hearings without setting foot on the floor of the chamber or in the meeting rooms of the Capitol. With computers, keypads, teleconferences, and videophones keeping them in touch with Washington, they’ll find themselves able to spend more time at home, close to their constituents. In what would be truly revolutionary, or at least a throwback to an earlier time, many may even be able to live at home instead of moving to Washington … If current trends continue, Congress would evolve into a deliberative body that organizes inquires and hearings, develops information about issues, and makes decisions after receiving instructions from its constituents.”
Biography:Lawrence Grossman wrote the book “The Electronic Republic: Reshaping Democracy in an Information Age” (Penguin, 1995). The former executive at NBC and PBS urged people to realize that digital communications had altered how things can and should be done. (Author/Editor/Journalist.)
Date of prediction: January 1, 1995
Topic of prediction: Global Relationships/Politics
Subtopic: Government
Name of publication: The Electronic Republic (book)
Title, headline, chapter name: Chapter 7: The Shape of the Electronic Republic: The Citizens, the Congress, the Presidency, and the Judiciary
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Pages 157-159
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne