Speaking at the Edinburgh Festival, Al Gore has argued that the internet has the potential to re-engage the electorate with politics. Gore points out that at the time of the Iraq War, 77% of Americans thought Saddam Hussein was responsible for the attack on the Twin Towers. He uses this as an example of the right-wing agenda of the American media. Gore adds: “The only thing that matters is that you have enough money to put 30 second TV commercials on the air to persuade voters to elect you.”

The internet clearly has the potential to change the political system. However, so far, there is a lack of a detailed explanation of how this will take place. Any ideas?

The key word in your sentence above is 'potential' as I recently saw that despite the fact that most Americans have access for the internet they still think [can't find the exact number, but think is about 50% - it shoud be down to the 20% who have their religious blinders on...of the 'American' Religion] there was a connection between Iraq and the WTC attack/ 911. There are now almost too many websites and many are just trash and then there are those with the same purposeful disinformaton as can be found on TV and the mainstream media. It has much to do with how to attact a following and trust in the site and information likely to be found there. Americans are, for the most part, so ignorant of history and geography, political systems, etc. they are often hardpressed to be able to make even a first sort evaluation [ie does it follow logically the historical facts]. Many others are not so interested in hard news or serious discussion and use the internet primarily for diversion or less 'ponderous' things. However, there is potential and for those who want to seek the unfiltered truth more of a field leveling...if you can find the right sites.

I have also noted that the political system is worried and is now seeking to control the internet and attempts at this have been initiated in recent legislation in the US. The attack on 'net neutrality' is the first and one can find details on this by entering this into a seach engine. http://www.savetheinternet.com/ is one.