Anarchists of the Web, Unite!

It doesn't sound like anything out of the ordinary when a group of liberals get together and decide they want to unionize.

Except when they're bloggers.

A blogger union: That might sound like the punch line of a joke, but it was one of the many ideas floated at YearlyKos, an annual conference ending today that gathers together over 1,500 political bloggers from around the country.

The proposed labor union would help citizens of the blogosphere procure health insurance, fight for press credentials, and share best practices, among other things.

Lefty bloggers also feel that a formal collective would add a patina of authority and legitimacy to a medium that is being viewed more and more as a key force in the 2008 election.

In other words, "we've earned it." That may be the case, but the problems with such an idea are manifold.

Such as, what role would a union serve for an activity that is a profession for few, and a hobby for many? Anyone with an internet connection and a little spare time can call themselves a "blogger;" few of the millions and millions of bloggers worldwide support themselves off the activity, and even fewer are paid for their efforts.

And then there are logistical roadblocks. If bloggers have one trademark, it's a reputation for being anarchical and contrarian (some would say that's the sine que non of blogging). How could anyone hope to reach the necessary consensus across so man diverse opinions and interests to even set up a union in the first place?

Currently, the blogosphere is governed by nothing more than frontier law, a setup that encourages bloggers to shed inhibitions and create an uncensored diversity of viewpoints.

But innovations like collective bargaining and the setting of professional standards is at odds with the roots of political blogging, which is supposed to be a vibrant counter-culture, a set of rogue ideologues who report to no one.

Whether or not a labor union gets off the ground, the idea is in itself an indication that the blog revolution is going mainstream, and tame.

by Liz Gunnison