Can Open Source Technology Aid Democracy?

Open Source Technology is democracy at its roots. I think the open source technology only aids democracy because it provides a more convenient forum for all citizens to gather and express their views on politics.
Just as the advent of television changed politics, I think the open source technology will have a similar impact. Maybe not as impressive as television, but the power of open source technology is definitely a force to be recognized.
The 2004 presidential election saw press credentials disturbed to bloggers covering the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. And both candidates acknowledged the influence of the internet on their campaigns as both parties had official blogs. Enid Burns reports in the story “Political Blogs A Presidential Election Force” posted on May 16, 2005 that, “The Republican side generated 955 messages between blogs and press materials, while Kerry's campaign issued 835 messages. Media coverage across 16 major media Web sites was also monitored.”
Open source politics offers a level of interaction in the political process that we’ve never had before. Instead of waiting for the nightly news report or the morning paper, citizens can blog about their views or visit blogs of the candidates. Citizens can also meet in open sources with other citizens to discuss views and share opinions. I will be very curious to see the influence of open source politics in the next presidential election.