E-Government, a marvel of technology or a double edged sword/

One of the benefits of e-government is the increase in efficiency brought about by the use of computers and internet based platforms that allow people to learn things such as what they're representative has agreed to fund. In a country that is getting larger and more complex, this benefit can be very meaningful. When the population becomes active and engaged, this means that democracy, in a sense, can become more efficient. What constituencies want can be better reflected as transparency increases in government.

Yet, studies have also shown that this increased level of access does not translate to a more representative democracy. Once the population has better access to information and to their elected officials, it is often the most engaged who dominate the attention of the Senatorial and Congressional staffs. Thus, those with the most organized and aggressive agendas are better able to crowd out the rest of the electorate and population.

For the most part, E-government has shown no solutions in addressing the latter matter.

I believe that e-government is in a state of transition where in which the full potential has not yet been realized. Today it exists more as a highly efficient version of essentially what was there before. This is common when matters of invention or innovation are applied. No one realizes the true applications of such technologies so they just mimic what they were doing prior to the discovery with marginal improvements. However, in time, technology will drastically change the way that government operates until it is virtually unrecognizable. Although everyone can be tracked through their cellphone or car, I believe that the way policy is formulated will essentially connect the dots and find solutions that crack many societal problems. I doubt any of us will see this until hindsight is available.

There is a reason that the first cars resembled horse carriages. I'm sure that no one at the time envisioned these enhanced horse carriages using an interstate system that expanded the city and changed the landscape, economy, and policies of America.