[WSIS CS-Plenary] The Economist on the 'real digital divide'

[Milton Mueller]

Dr. Milton Mueller
Syracuse University School of Information Studies
http://www.digital-convergence.org
http://www.internetgovernance.org


>>> schock at riseup.net 3/13/2005 10:56:52 AM >>>
>Anyone have time write a good response to this? In fact they would 
>probably publish a thoughtful response letter.

I would hope that any thoughtful response will recognize that the
fundamental premise expressed below, is true:

>...the digital divide is not a problem in
>itself, but a symptom of deeper, more important divides: of income,
>development and literacy. Fewer people in poor countries than in rich
>ones own computers and have access to the internet simply because
they
>are too poor, are illiterate, or have other more pressing concerns,
such
>as food, health care and security. So even if it were possible to wave
a
>magic wand and cause a computer to appear in every household on
earth,
>it would not achieve very much: a computer is not useful if you have
no
>food or electricity and cannot read.