Networks work! Human affairs always manifest networks of some kind but with the advent of the internet and its modern tools - it’s easy to forget that networks are hardly a recent invention or an instrument for social media alone. Networks, whether they are based on simple human relations - a family clan or a sports league say (strong ties) - or one captured by technology, like some social media platforms, (weak ties) - are neutral. They exist; without representing anything necessarily nefarious or good. However, those who understand the power of networks, and consciously meld their purposes to a specific design, one based on that understanding and intended to achieve their ends, will have significant advantage. As politics and civics are naturally immersed in the capture, maintenance and use of power, networks naturally were and are essential to power relations and societal outcomes. This has made the purposing of political networks, and now the technology that supports those aims, central to our present; and future. Yet, long before there was an internet, elite networks were constructed that incorporated important institutions, personnel, policy apparatus, communications technology and media. Quite effective, these mostly unseen influences have shaped much of our history. But, given the many checks and balances our founding and ensuing history created, the product of those efforts could be only channeled through the visible system of our constitutional methods and agents; our politics. This hasn’t changed though a very consequential shift had taken place in the century plus that ours became the unique two tier electoral system it is today. To the casual observer, the changes brought may be subtle, or even unnoticeable. However, when open ballot access methods, and the power to nominate joined the general election as the lawful – and fully self-governing - electoral system of the United States, major change to the political system and its players was ensured. These were mechanisms of control that had previously and historically belonged only to the privileged members of the boss/machine system; the elite network suitable to that time and terrain. Now, with the people given this central authority, focus and methods had to change. In order to achieve their political aims under these new circumstances, old networks restructured and new ones formed. Over time there came a shift from a narrower, party-centric emphasis that more featured the blunt instrument of spoils, to one focused on very sophisticated and integrated methods of mass influence. The modern manifestation of the purposed network tasked with controlling that visible system and achieving those aims, can be accurately called a money-media- election-complex. This is a network of great complexity, strong ties, and organization that leaves little, if anything, out of its sphere of influence. This network is much more than a simple engine to see preferred candidates presented, selected and elected within a party system. It is a highly interconnected, refined, specifically purposed network that commands key elements of our socio political infrastructure. http://dradis.ur.northwestern.edu/multimedia/PDF/politics.pdf This “post-shift” environment required control of many - seemingly humble - components of that infrastructure that, when thoughtfully networked, wend their way throughout society wielding tremendous influence. Roughly, it looks and works like this;
Of course all of this is filtered, promoted, and managed by and through media – a component of the networks reach and influence that can be glimpsed here, but must be considered separately. What is important to understand is that for the network(s) that operate within the domain of money, media and elections - media is never a separate matter from the actions and intentions outlined here. Personnel, information, aims, strategy and action are one; and fully attached to a coherent medium of communications. However when it comes to the people, the citizenry, there remains to this day no similar attachment of personnel, information, aims, or strategy to a coherent medium of media. This despite:

• Two decades plus of internet fueled “network-mania”
• The clear and well documented history and success of this modern complex and its networks

Cries blaming the moneyed and powerful are always voiced but rarely if ever are the lessons of commitment, organization and strategic planning learned; or sought. This blame, begging and distraction are unhelpful and must end. There is much that can be done but it will require capable people to separate from the excuse-makers and the mass influence, and influencers, of the complex and for them to focus on building their own highly integrated and sophisticated network of purpose.