Ding dong, the bill is dead.  I confess that right now I feel kind of overwhelmed by happy emotion.I've participated in democracy in the best, most hopeful way. In the past I've made phone calls for candidates. I've contributed money and gone to meetings. I'm on my town's Republican Committee.But, doing my small part to fight a bad piece of legislation, and witnessing on-line my fellow citizens doing theirs, is one of the most wonderful experiences I've ever had.Has there every been a moment in American history to match this one, when all the force of professional government has been stymied by a determined citizenry?There has been much talk in recent years comparing the invention of the internet with the invention of the printing press on freedom and government. It may still not be strictly true, but the comparison now has greater validity.(Read Full Post)