Politicians’ Tweets:

Recently, I read an article in the NY Times that points out the use of Twitter by celebrities and those that follow them. The article showcases how celebrities have embraced Twitter but politicians cannot be bothered, and brings up examples of meaningless politician tweets.

Twitter founders suggested that its current use has not even scratched the surface of Twitter's possibilities. With Twitter's effect on the Iranian revolution and the possibility of eating lunch with Shaquille O'Neal, one has to be inclined to agree.

Celebrities like to be celebrated; it’s their character. Celebrities seek out attention and Twitter provides that self-gratification. Though, if we elevate ourselves from the now and peer into the distance, Twitter’s functionality could be used for much more than entertainment. If politicians adopted some of this 'celebrity' character, we could have a new movement on our hands.

Imagine for one second that most people had Twitter feeds of their town's mayor, state congressmen, and senator. Imagine following town hall or community meetings from anywhere in the world. Apathy and ignorance toward decisions that affect your day-to-day may not become extinct, but there would definitely be an increased awareness.

While most people would never be bothered to go to that council meeting or petition for their congressman, they would at least be aware of the issues, and that's a start.

Twitter could become your way to hear the questions, comments, or statements straight from the person you wish to hear from without going through an opinionated, reiterated funnel.

If you stop trusting your mayor's Twitter, start following their rivals. Perhaps this movement could become so large that the number or followers a user has influences the weight of his or her decisions on issues of communal importance. Scary or enlightening, what we do now in the time of an economic depression and technological revolution will be spoken about either with "could we have done more with Twitter?" or "can you even remember how we did things before Twitter?"

Just a thought.