'The tools for cultural production and distribution are in the pockets of 14 year olds. This does not guarantee that they will do the hard work of democratic self-governance...but...which kind of population seems more likely to become actively engaged in civic affairs — a population of passive consumers, sitting slack jawed in their darkened rooms, soaking in mass-manufactured culture that is broadcast by a few to an audience of many, or a world of creators who might be misinformed or ill-intentioned, but in any case are actively engaged in producing as well as consuming cultural products? "

--SmartMobs author Howard Rheingold, answering the Edge.org question"What are you optimistic about?"

(Via Ouroboros, Weiden-Kennedy blog)