For a while, I thought that politics was the way to change the world. I don’t mean that I wanted to run for office. When I think of politics, I think of a broad range of activities (supporting politicians, running for office, protesting against the government, vandalizing corporate property, etc.). My flavor of political activity was protesting (usually by sitting in a bar complaining about the state of the world, but occasionally with picket signs and marches). Since my early teenage years, I’ve felt the need to rebel against the status quo. Where this spirit came from, I know not. My mother is passive. My father is pure status quo. Perhaps they were a bit too old to become hippies, so they have maintained their 1950s conformity throughout their lives. But as I was saying, I’ve got the rebel streak. Not too long ago, my interest in politics really came to a head. I became involved with people whose lives are centered on political protest and organization. Loosely, they could be described as socialists. I guess I would loosely describe myself as a socialist (or more specifically, a libertarian-socialist). I thought that this was the way to change the world. Organize and scream and eventually things may change. Now, I disagree.

What brought about this change? Well, though I was “fighting” for a world that was rid of hierarchy (i.e., a world of power differentials), my methods were centered in the struggle for power. Protesting, even when “non-violent”, is a very active, very powerful endeavor. Indeed, what drives protesters is the notion that, through collective power, a group of individually-weak people can unseat a group of stronger (albeit, fewer in number) individuals. I now see the paradox: a power struggle to eliminate power.

So what is the alternative? Well, I think that technology is a great alternative. Direct action, like protesting, can cause quick results. Think about the Montgomery Bus Boycott. It took a few months for the boycotters to achieve their victory (desegregation of buses), but given how monumental this victory was, I would say that this was a rapid response to direct action. The problem with direct action is that it doesn’t always achieve the intended results (consider all the strikes that end in the employer’s favor), and even when the results are positive, the tide can easily turn a short time later.

Technology, on the other hand, has a more insidious, but longer-lasting effect on humanity. For instance, the national highway system gave birth to American suburbia, but the roots of this change lie in the invention of the automobile, decades prior to the Eisenhower’s highways project. It took many years for the automobile to transform the average American from city-dweller to suburban kings and queens, but that process continues unabated.

Democracy, that wonderful ideal that replaced hereditary power, arose due to technology. By selling technology (like books, for instance), the Europeans of the Middle Ages began to get rich again, and with their new wealth, the burgeoning middle class had more time on their hands to think about how rotten feudalism was. Eventually (centuries later), the Enlightenment arose, and with it came the death of many kings. Again, I argue that without technology, this slow but lasting change might never have occurred.

So back to me. The rebel in me has always been there, and it continues to thrive. However, the geek in me, has come to the forefront lately. I now realize that geeks may be more effective than passionate protesters. “Experts” are losing their livelihood to Wikipedians. Professionals are giving way to amateurs. How is this happening? Via technology. I am certain that blogs and wikis and the like are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to anarchic technologies. The geeks, if properly encouraged, will continue to flatten this world of ours. I still have the potential to live another 70 years. I think that if I last that long, I’ll begin to see the real results of what we’re doing now with our blogs and wikis and social networks. Hopefully the rest of you social software enthusiasts will keep this in mind. One blog post will not change the world, but with time, our combined work will profoundly influence humanity.