SURFING THE WEB

Politics and the Web

By: Dick Travis

We all want to stay informed on the political situation locally, nationally and of course, internationally. How can access to the Web help us sort out the sound bites we so often hear on radio and TV?

There is hardly a radio or TV station that doesn’t continually keep referring you to their website for more comprehensive information, but how many people actually go running to their computer and type in the web site address?

Are you kidding? So maybe we can remember CNN or ABC or FOX, but that’s about it.

Using the search mechanisms on the web, you have an excellent opportunity to keep abreast of the latest news and even archived reports on your favorite subject. Let’s say you are interested in “Immigration” and want to keep up on the pros and cons of this timely subject.

I would suggest using both Google’s News and Web searches to ferret out the latest articles.

Just type in “immigration” in the Google News site and you will be impressed with the latest news items concerning all kinds of “immigration” news. The items also show how “old” the information is—usually within a day or two!

On a recent day, I found a plethora of items of interest, such as—Schwarzenegger’s big gamble on immigration, polls, reform groups, immigration expert’s comments and various viewpoints on the subject.

As far as websites concerning immigration topics, Google in their first ten listings, shows the Immigration and Naturalization Service, information on various countries immigration procedures as well as a website relating explicitly to immigration.

On the ILW.com website, one can find immigration information, find immigration lawyers, chat with immigration lawyers ,a discussion board, immigration news, and more…

Google also suggest checking out the Center for Immigration Studies and a National Immigration Forum web site awaits your perusal. The AILA – The Professional Organization for Immigration Lawyers has a web site promoting public understanding of immigration law.

Accessing the internet in a search mode pre-supposes that you are genuinely interested in a subject. If you already have a firm opinion about any political or social issue, you probably don’t want to read opposing views. If so, you can always limit yourself to your favorite TV channel or columnist who will generally back up your opinion.

However, I believe that access to information and differing opinions is a hallmark of a great democracy. The web can help us determine the facts and thus everyone can make intelligent political decisions which will help keep our country democratic and free. Use the Web to keep your political and social mind sharp.

Needless to say, you will find extreme left and right websites, some of which are downright ludicrous, funny or even close to illegal, so beware the website with a mission to ONLY look at one side of any issue.

Keeping up with political information on the Web can be a daunting task, but Google News certainly gives us the quickest way to find out the latest and also enables one to check out the issues in as much detail as you desire.

Even local politics can be fun while searching the local paper’s web sites for “names” or “subjects”. Sometimes you can even find my name in the “letters to the editor”?

Happy surfing.

Email me at dtravis2@cox.net or call at (760) 724-4091