Forum Post: Why Not Direct Democracy?
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 17, 2011, 5:33 a.m. EST by TruePatriots
(274)
from San Diego, CA
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Why are we arguing about which party is better or who to elect...the best way to get rid of lobbyist and money from elections is to not have elections or politicians to bribe.
Thousands of years ago in Ancient Greece they experimented with a system called direct democracy where the people would decide the fate of laws and governance. They were able to do it because it was a city-state with a small population. Larger nations had to have representative democracies like the US because every vote couldn't be accounted for instance in California when the capital was in DC which was a trip that took months in 1850. We might want to use social security number online to vote (ensure there aren't multis).
The difference today is that we have technology that enables people across large distances to communicate and in a direct democracy: vote. Yes, there's problems like cyber security that needs addressing but it is something that can be overcome. One person one vote. Anyone can submit a bill/law that would be filtered through many committees until a general vote so that we won't be clogged with too many bills/laws (we would need checks and balances to ensure that a random idea wouldn't be directly voted on but rather filtered or modified).
I would really like to hear some feedback on it. This is a time of great changes lets make the biggest one.
Sure.
Direct Democracy now!
Direct democracy could easily lead to tyranny. It could easily turn our country into a theocracy. I do not wish to be ruled by 51% of the population anymore than a monarch. In direct democracy the voice and power of the minority is squashed.
Count me in.
Direct Democracy now! x2
Yeeeeeeeessss!
Many many reasons but I'll list a few here:
You have my vote for Direct Democracy. No more BS from bickering political parties and hijacking of our democracy by the 1% using their bought and paid for political class and Judges.
On the other hand, can you imagine the advertising campaigns? You think Nike is bad? Imagine the lengths a corporation with means would go to influence the popular vote. And whats worse is I don't think I could trust the American people to make the right decision. Look how our (very generalized "our" not referring to most people reading) people are swayed by the media now. I'm not sure if I feel better about over-financed corporations soliciting to everyone or just the politicians like they do now.
...yeah that would work for me... Good idea
OP, your idea, of course, means scrapping the constitution and, thereby, the United States. That said, if it collapses, people are going to be scrambling on how to govern themselves. So, in light of that and just to kick ideas around, you might want to Google Gaddafi's "Green Book", which is online. It will also give you some idea of why Libya is being attacked by NATO (UK, France & the US, really). Also, the Iroquois constitution, which is amazing: http://tuscaroras.com/pages/history/iroquois_constitution_1.html What you suggesting cannot be done on a national or even state level. It has to be done on a very small level, like tribal. Since we don't have tribes (except for Indians), I would suggest precinct level, at the largest. Precincts can then make decisions for the counties, the counties for the states, and the states for the nation, if we still have one.
http://www.plainsite.org/
I think this site should be linked from or be a part of www.occupywallst.org. Direct democracy!!
I have a petition to let taxpayers choose where their money will go instead of politics. http://www.petitiononline.com/FengGao/petition.html
oh yeah, cause no computer system is unhackable rollseyes
look, direct democracy is great on a small scale. I just don't see it working on any scal larger than a small city (> 100,000 population, and that's being generous) also how would items be decided if they pass or not? simple majority, super-majority (say 3/5) or consensus? the only way for everyone to be happy is to reach consensus. anything less and people will bitch. try getting everyone that votes (say 75 million) to reach consensus on ANYTHING. not going to happen.
I instead propose proportional delegative representation. more people are represented and the delegates can only vote how they are authorized to by those they represent