Register | Sign In


Understanding through Discussion


EvC Forum active members: 65 (9162 total)
4 online now:
Newest Member: popoi
Post Volume: Total: 915,808 Year: 3,065/9,624 Month: 910/1,588 Week: 93/223 Day: 4/17 Hour: 1/1


Thread  Details

Email This Thread
Newer Topic | Older Topic
  
Author Topic:   ANOTHER Political Quiz
RAZD
Member (Idle past 1404 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


Message 76 of 102 (726845)
05-13-2014 12:04 PM
Reply to: Message 75 by Omnivorous
05-13-2014 11:44 AM


Re: Mix and Match
Maybe they shouldn't be paid at all. They're almost all millionaires--if not when they take office, shortly after.
And they don't need no steenkin pension either ...
My view mirrors Poul Anderson's Dominic Flandry, ...
Not (gasp) Heinlein? Then there is Nicholas van Rijn ... corporate scalawag ...
I find direct democracy a terrifying notion. At least our representative democracy often slows things down enough for the fever of the day to pass.
It seems to me that representatives should not be in a position to make decisions that affect them without affecting the people they represent (pay, healthcare, pension, etc) and that these should be decided (or at least approved) by direct votes during the next election.
Should Supreme Court decisions be validated\approved by direct votes? What is the process to check and balance these decisions? What should it be?
Representative democracy will always be open\subject to corruption and corrupting influences, so how can we put a check on that process?

we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand
RebelAmerican☆Zen☯Deist
... to learn ... to think ... to live ... to laugh ...
to share.


Join the effort to solve medical problems, AIDS/HIV, Cancer and more with Team EvC! (click)

This message is a reply to:
 Message 75 by Omnivorous, posted 05-13-2014 11:44 AM Omnivorous has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 77 by Omnivorous, posted 05-13-2014 12:25 PM RAZD has seen this message but not replied

  
Omnivorous
Member
Posts: 3978
From: Adirondackia
Joined: 07-21-2005
Member Rating: 7.3


(1)
Message 77 of 102 (726852)
05-13-2014 12:25 PM
Reply to: Message 76 by RAZD
05-13-2014 12:04 PM


Re: Mix and Match
RAZD writes:
Representative democracy will always be open\subject to corruption and corrupting influences, so how can we put a check on that process?
Damned if I know. I once thought our founders did a pretty good job of it, but as things stand, maybe not so much.
But I think the answer in any democracy lies with the voters. An electorate informed and involved enough for a just and effective direct democracy would do just as well at representative democracy, and vice versa.
Demand transparency, rein in big money: the essential political reform of our time. But the voters who indirectly created the current SCOTUS would do no better seating them directly.
I'm not inalterably opposed to national referenda, but the bar to launching them should be high, or we'll get knocked around like ping pong balls.

"If you can keep your head while those around you are losing theirs, you can collect a lot of heads."

This message is a reply to:
 Message 76 by RAZD, posted 05-13-2014 12:04 PM RAZD has seen this message but not replied

  
ringo
Member (Idle past 411 days)
Posts: 20940
From: frozen wasteland
Joined: 03-23-2005


(2)
Message 78 of 102 (726854)
05-13-2014 12:30 PM
Reply to: Message 75 by Omnivorous
05-13-2014 11:44 AM


Re: Mix and Match
Omnivorous writes:
Maybe they shouldn't be paid at all.
We sometimes have politicians reminding us that they could make more money in private industry. My response is, "Please do."
(I think politicians should get welfare. It might give them some incentive.)

This message is a reply to:
 Message 75 by Omnivorous, posted 05-13-2014 11:44 AM Omnivorous has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 79 by Tanypteryx, posted 05-13-2014 1:06 PM ringo has replied

  
Tanypteryx
Member
Posts: 4344
From: Oregon, USA
Joined: 08-27-2006
Member Rating: 5.9


(3)
Message 79 of 102 (726859)
05-13-2014 1:06 PM
Reply to: Message 78 by ringo
05-13-2014 12:30 PM


Re: Mix and Match
(I think politicians should get welfare. It might give them some incentive.)
And they should have to live in barracks during their term.
I have often wondered whether it would work if our representatives were chosen by lottery, like jurors. A single term and you are free. The problem is that there might be a high rate of suicide. Just think of spending even 2 years doing nothing but sitting in meetings. I know it would drive me crazy, but my odds of being chosen from 200 million other people would be an low enough to risk it.

What if Eleanor Roosevelt had wings? -- Monty Python
One important characteristic of a theory is that is has survived repeated attempts to falsify it. Contrary to your understanding, all available evidence confirms it. --Subbie
If evolution is shown to be false, it will be at the hands of things that are true, not made up. --percy

This message is a reply to:
 Message 78 by ringo, posted 05-13-2014 12:30 PM ringo has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 80 by Omnivorous, posted 05-13-2014 1:14 PM Tanypteryx has seen this message but not replied
 Message 81 by ringo, posted 05-13-2014 1:14 PM Tanypteryx has replied
 Message 83 by xongsmith, posted 05-13-2014 3:48 PM Tanypteryx has seen this message but not replied

  
Omnivorous
Member
Posts: 3978
From: Adirondackia
Joined: 07-21-2005
Member Rating: 7.3


(1)
Message 80 of 102 (726861)
05-13-2014 1:14 PM
Reply to: Message 79 by Tanypteryx
05-13-2014 1:06 PM


Re: Mix and Match
Tanypteryx writes:
And they should have to live in barracks during their term.
Barracks aren't so bad.
Let 'em live in slums and feed themselves with the average allotment of food stamps.

"If you can keep your head while those around you are losing theirs, you can collect a lot of heads."

This message is a reply to:
 Message 79 by Tanypteryx, posted 05-13-2014 1:06 PM Tanypteryx has seen this message but not replied

  
ringo
Member (Idle past 411 days)
Posts: 20940
From: frozen wasteland
Joined: 03-23-2005


(1)
Message 81 of 102 (726862)
05-13-2014 1:14 PM
Reply to: Message 79 by Tanypteryx
05-13-2014 1:06 PM


Re: Mix and Match
Tanypteryx writes:
I have often wondered whether it would work if our representatives were chosen by lottery, like jurors.
I've considered that myself, but mostly as a science-fiction story.
Tanypteryx writes:
A single term and you are free.
There is something to be said for continuity though. When everybody is the new kid on the block, who shows them the ropes?
I like the U.S. system where 1/3 of the Senate is elected every two years. Maybe the lottery could use a staggered system like that.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 79 by Tanypteryx, posted 05-13-2014 1:06 PM Tanypteryx has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 82 by Tanypteryx, posted 05-13-2014 1:35 PM ringo has seen this message but not replied

  
Tanypteryx
Member
Posts: 4344
From: Oregon, USA
Joined: 08-27-2006
Member Rating: 5.9


(1)
Message 82 of 102 (726863)
05-13-2014 1:35 PM
Reply to: Message 81 by ringo
05-13-2014 1:14 PM


Re: Mix and Match
I like the U.S. system where 1/3 of the Senate is elected every two years. Maybe the lottery could use a staggered system like that.
A staggered system would work, but we could also make learning how the government works part of high school education.
The issues would end up being much simpler, I think. No more complex multi-thousand page bills with exceptions and amendments, especially unrelated amendments.
I know these kinds of changes in how we organize and govern ourselves will never happen, anymore than RAZD's great ideas will, but I still find myself thinking, "What if?"

What if Eleanor Roosevelt had wings? -- Monty Python
One important characteristic of a theory is that is has survived repeated attempts to falsify it. Contrary to your understanding, all available evidence confirms it. --Subbie
If evolution is shown to be false, it will be at the hands of things that are true, not made up. --percy

This message is a reply to:
 Message 81 by ringo, posted 05-13-2014 1:14 PM ringo has seen this message but not replied

  
xongsmith
Member
Posts: 2578
From: massachusetts US
Joined: 01-01-2009
Member Rating: 6.8


(2)
Message 83 of 102 (726875)
05-13-2014 3:48 PM
Reply to: Message 79 by Tanypteryx
05-13-2014 1:06 PM


Re: Mix and Match
Tanypteryx writes:
I have often wondered whether it would work if our representatives were chosen by lottery, like jurors. A single term and you are free. The problem is that there might be a high rate of suicide. Just think of spending even 2 years doing nothing but sitting in meetings. I know it would drive me crazy, but my odds of being chosen from 200 million other people would be an low enough to risk it.
I have already posted something like that here, i think, Tanypteryx.
Somewhere, anyway.
Actually the bottom level is the juror lottery. After you do jury duty, your name gets thrown into the hopper for the next level up (select(wo)man, or something like city councilor, or whatever.). Any one can take their name out of the hopper at any time. Then those from level 2 finish their term and their names get thrown into the next hopper level, and so on all the way to State Rep, State Senator, Governor, US Rep, US Senate and on up to President of the US. That way the person at the top has EXPERIENCE at every level. No campaign money is ever spent. BUT....
Bribery would still be unchained willy-nilly. Maybe sequester them? Any official caught taking money is gone from the system with no pension, no healthcare, no retirement.
Ah, not sure this would work. Have to have a very different emphasis in Civic classes in school.
"Insane? Whaddya mean? None of you idiots here are any more nuts than the average asshole walking out on the street!" - paraphrasing Jack Nicholson in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"

- xongsmith, 5.7d

This message is a reply to:
 Message 79 by Tanypteryx, posted 05-13-2014 1:06 PM Tanypteryx has seen this message but not replied

  
Dogmafood
Member (Idle past 348 days)
Posts: 1815
From: Ontario Canada
Joined: 08-04-2010


Message 84 of 102 (727324)
05-17-2014 12:15 PM


Theory of democracy
anglagard writes:
Considering this is actual evidence for or against the effectiveness of direct democracy, perhaps the historical data concerning each state where it has been implemented should be deeply examined.
Here is a summary of all ballot initiatives that that took place in 2012. (A good resource for anyone interested.)
While I have not reviewed them all I didn't see anything there that was cause for concern even though I didn't agree with all of the outcomes. I wonder if anyone can point to some sign of mob rule or irrational behaviour. Remember that all of the results are subject to examination by the courts after their passage.
Omnivorous writes:
I find direct democracy a terrifying notion. At least our representative democracy often slows things down enough for the fever of the day to pass.
I completely agree that there needs to be time for cool reflection and that a bureaucracy ensures that at least some of that happens but I think that you are again conflating DD with mob rule. I don't see why DD would speed anything up very much.
Why is it better to elect a representative to vote on issues that they know little about as opposed to voting on the issues ourselves? Leaving aside the issue of process and how we could do it, what is theoretically wrong with working toward a more direct appeal to the people? The only objection I have seen so far is one of fear.

Replies to this message:
 Message 85 by RAZD, posted 05-17-2014 12:41 PM Dogmafood has replied

  
RAZD
Member (Idle past 1404 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


Message 85 of 102 (727330)
05-17-2014 12:41 PM
Reply to: Message 84 by Dogmafood
05-17-2014 12:15 PM


Referendum DD at End of Term/s
Here's a thought -
At the end of a representatives term of office there is a referendum where all the voters they represent review each of the choices/votes cast by the representative
agree or disagree on each item
If total (agree) < total (disagree) votes, then they cannot run for reelection. There is no campaigning, no ads, nothing but the list of actual performance in office decisions.
Edited by RAZD, : No reason given.

we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand
RebelAmerican☆Zen☯Deist
... to learn ... to think ... to live ... to laugh ...
to share.


Join the effort to solve medical problems, AIDS/HIV, Cancer and more with Team EvC! (click)

This message is a reply to:
 Message 84 by Dogmafood, posted 05-17-2014 12:15 PM Dogmafood has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 86 by Dogmafood, posted 05-17-2014 1:42 PM RAZD has replied

  
Dogmafood
Member (Idle past 348 days)
Posts: 1815
From: Ontario Canada
Joined: 08-04-2010


Message 86 of 102 (727341)
05-17-2014 1:42 PM
Reply to: Message 85 by RAZD
05-17-2014 12:41 PM


Re: Referendum DD at End of Term/s
I am not sure what the benefit to that would be. As it is now if the rep doesn't measure up then they do not get reelected. Why the separation between the vote and the people?
In theory, the people are the highest authority. Historically, representatives solved the practical problem of actually being available to vote on issues. As technology begins to be able to solve this problem I don't see why we don't employ it. Doing away with rep dem should eliminate any chance of misrepresentation. I think that it would also reduce the opportunity for corruption.
It is like the opposition comes from the idea that democracy is ok for me but not for everyone. Doesn't that seem a little hypocritical?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 85 by RAZD, posted 05-17-2014 12:41 PM RAZD has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 87 by RAZD, posted 05-17-2014 2:29 PM Dogmafood has replied
 Message 89 by NoNukes, posted 05-18-2014 4:05 AM Dogmafood has replied

  
RAZD
Member (Idle past 1404 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


Message 87 of 102 (727342)
05-17-2014 2:29 PM
Reply to: Message 86 by Dogmafood
05-17-2014 1:42 PM


Re: Referendum DD at End of Term/s
As it is now if the rep doesn't measure up then they do not get reelected.
Except they are mostly campaigning with lots of dollars in fairly secure districts.
And I think the referendum votes should be yes/no with no record of the reps record.
Why the separation between the vote and the people?
That's your cooloff time.
(abe) this could be a way to introduce DD
Edited by RAZD, : ?

we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand
RebelAmerican☆Zen☯Deist
... to learn ... to think ... to live ... to laugh ...
to share.


Join the effort to solve medical problems, AIDS/HIV, Cancer and more with Team EvC! (click)

This message is a reply to:
 Message 86 by Dogmafood, posted 05-17-2014 1:42 PM Dogmafood has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 88 by Dogmafood, posted 05-17-2014 7:34 PM RAZD has not replied

  
Dogmafood
Member (Idle past 348 days)
Posts: 1815
From: Ontario Canada
Joined: 08-04-2010


Message 88 of 102 (727400)
05-17-2014 7:34 PM
Reply to: Message 87 by RAZD
05-17-2014 2:29 PM


Re: Referendum DD at End of Term/s
How about constituents inform their reps, by some secure method, which way they want them to vote on a particular issue. If the number of voters participating crosses a threshold then the rep is obligated to vote that way. If not then the rep can vote as they wish.
The rep could have the ability to vote against the wishes of his constituents even if the threshold is passed but would then have to defend that action. Perhaps limit this ability to a certain number of occasions or make it painful in some way. Maybe dock them 20% of their income for every divergent vote.
I think that if we want people to participate then we have to set it up so that their vote makes a real difference as opposed to the lip service that we get now.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 87 by RAZD, posted 05-17-2014 2:29 PM RAZD has not replied

  
NoNukes
Inactive Member


Message 89 of 102 (727416)
05-18-2014 4:05 AM
Reply to: Message 86 by Dogmafood
05-17-2014 1:42 PM


Re: Referendum DD at End of Term/s
It is like the opposition comes from the idea that democracy is ok for me but not for everyone. Doesn't that seem a little hypocritical?
Yes, that would be hypocritical. But I don't see anyone expressing anything like that opinion.

Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also in prison. Thoreau: Civil Disobedience (1846)
I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him. Galileo Galilei
If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightning. Frederick Douglass

This message is a reply to:
 Message 86 by Dogmafood, posted 05-17-2014 1:42 PM Dogmafood has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 90 by Dogmafood, posted 05-19-2014 9:20 AM NoNukes has replied

  
Dogmafood
Member (Idle past 348 days)
Posts: 1815
From: Ontario Canada
Joined: 08-04-2010


Message 90 of 102 (727588)
05-19-2014 9:20 AM
Reply to: Message 89 by NoNukes
05-18-2014 4:05 AM


Re: Referendum DD at End of Term/s
Of course not that would be hypocritical.
How many here think that they themselves should not be allowed to vote? While Omnivoruous is terrified of DD I am sure that he doesn't think that we should be terrified of him voting.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 89 by NoNukes, posted 05-18-2014 4:05 AM NoNukes has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 91 by ringo, posted 05-20-2014 1:13 PM Dogmafood has replied
 Message 99 by NoNukes, posted 05-21-2014 12:05 PM Dogmafood has replied

  
Newer Topic | Older Topic
Jump to:


Copyright 2001-2023 by EvC Forum, All Rights Reserved

™ Version 4.2
Innovative software from Qwixotic © 2024