Question

Does technology and the ability to contact and organize people quickly through social networking help to make our "extended republic" a little less extended?

Answer 1

The correct answer to this open question is the following.

First, let's remember what James Madison considered about "extended Republic" in the United States. The place in which the political community of the country was the formation of different and smaller communities that could be against traditional approaches to do things and maintain proper life.

So no. Today, technology and the ability to contact and organize people quickly through social networking have created a very connected community -national and international- able to communicate with each other instantly and form groups that support many political and social postures, which, by the way, exert some kind of pressure to the political status quo.

Social media had given an open voice to people that before had none. When correctly organized people have the ability to influence public opinion and oppose those decisions or legislation that they considered unjust.

So again, no, technology and the ability to contact and organize people quickly through social networking help to make our "extended republic" a little less extended. On the contrary, differences are increasing and people are making their voices heard.