SOME POLITICAL ACTIVISTS SAY THE INTERNET MAKES AVERAGE CITIZENS MORE POWERFUL BECAUSE ELECTRONIC MAIL CAN BE A DIRECT PIPELINE TO ELECTED OFFICIALS. HOWEVER, SOME LAWMAKERS SAY THE ELECTRONIC VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IS JUST ANOTHER VOICE TO IGNORE. MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO'S JON GORDON REPORTS. AMERICAN DEMOCRACY IS BUILT AROUND CITIZEN PARTICIPATION, THROUGH VOTING, TOWN MEETINGS, CAUCUSES AND GENERAL DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUES. POLITICAL SCIENTISTS ARE CONCERNED THAT FEWER PEOPLE ARE GETING INVOLVED, BELIEVING THEIR VOICE DOES NOT MATTER. BUT SOME POLITICAL ACTIVISIST SAY THE INTERNET HAS THE POTENTIAL TO RE-INVIGORATE DEMOCRACY. THE WORLDWIDE WEB IS A CHEAP PLATFORM TO PUBLISH POLITICAL VIEWS. DISCUSSION LISTS GENERATE HEALTHY POLITCAL DEBATE. AND E-MAIL IS A CHEAP, EFFECTIVE WAY TO CO