National research and education network (NREN) caucus: A deliberative proposal

This thesis, NREN Caucus--A Deliberative Proposal, proposes to answer the question: Is it possible to use the Internet to develop a democratic discussion on a nation-wide basis? The Internet is a powerful communication tool. Originally used for research and high-speed computing power, it is presently used for those purposes, but even more it is used for entertainment and for commerce. A popular use of the Internet is talking by means of listservs and bulletin boards. Talking and listening are necessary for democracies. This proposal suggests a method for talking on the Internet in order to provide a forum for public discussion for democratic purposes and in order to develop public judgment.