In order for this country to be a fully functioning democracy, with every citizen taking part, we need to have access to diverse and independent voices who are giving the public numerous sources of news, images, and ideas. This way everyone can make decisions that are based on a wide range of information. Unfortunately, the state of the current media infrastructure is as unstable and as the supposed “reconstruction” efforts in Iraq led by private contractors.

What we have now: conglomerated media outlets, very few media executives who are minorities, news that's influenced by corporate interests, and oppressive and criminalizing portrayals of minorities in media. So we really need media reform.

Citizens also need to be able to petition the government, as is there constitutional right. If we can't hold politicians accountable for their actions then there just going to get swept off their feet by lobbyists and run around giving out $850 billion dollar bailouts to banks and corporations. Wait...they already did that! So that means we aren't doing something right. What else can we do to hold government accountable, and who is going to do it?

One answer lies in the generation that has grown up with a TV in their living room and a computer at their desk, which is usually going to be people who identify as youth.  These are people who know more about using Word and Google than they do about typewriters and library index cards. These “Digital Natives” are exposed to a culture that, for the last 50 years, has been about advertising, and manufacturing consent, and making money for corporations. But there's a way to reclaim awareness, declare your independence, and use this media against the powers that be. It's called: Political Remix.
 
Political Remix can be, and already is, a critical tool for youth and activists. When you Remix you take a piece of pop culture media and you change it in a way that creates new media that represents your culture or times. The end product could be an homage, a critique, a satire, a parody, etc. Remember: remix is not confined to one medium, you can remix anything.

You may concerned about the legality of this act, especially because of the stream of negative rhetoric coming from corporations telling you its illegal to take copyrighted material and use it for your own purposes. However, thanks to the revolutionary documents this country was founded on we are free to "appropriate" copyrighted material as long as we follow some guidelines. These are called Fair Use Laws. [Please Google this right now and learn more about it. Also, look up Lawrence Lessig, intellectual property, and the Fair Use Remix Institute (FURI)]

Remix has always been part of history. Poets, artists, and writers have "recycled" bits and pieces from past history to create new culture.  Remix, when used creatively, can be a very powerful weapon. It can challenge corporate media and break the stereotypical molds that advertisements create for youth. But most importantly, remix is one way to take part, fully, in this democracy. This country can't function as it was meant to if there are no voices that can speak out against injustices.

One recent example of how Remix is being used to hold politicians accountable is the piece called “So You Think You Can Be President” by digital artist and activist Jonathan McIntosh. The piece uses footage from the presidential debates and the reality TV show “So You Think You Can Dance” and creates a new reality TV show where the presidential candidates compete for the public's vote and have to listen to judges' reactions.

Here's the piece “So You Think You Can Be President”:




You can check out more of Jonathan McIntosh's work.  He also keeps a blog about the best remixes on the web.

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