The only way forward is massive, perpetual, civic participation. The populace must watch the government like a hawk.
At the core, most of the problems with government are an education problem first and foremost because the citizenry has failed to do its job of oversight. To solve this, make classes on civics, critical thinking, logical fa…
The only way forward is massive, perpetual, civic participation. The populace must watch the government like a hawk.
At the core, most of the problems with government are an education problem first and foremost because the citizenry has failed to do its job of oversight. To solve this, make classes on civics, critical thinking, logical fallacies, and the bias spectrum mandatory from k-12. Create an informed citizenry with a strong sense of what is at stake if they do not keep their government in check.
I second. Been sayin it for years. Also floating the idea that our elected representatives (though likely many are selected, yet another thing that has to be remedied) only craft legislation. Bills are not massive but instead are short and to the point, no more than 4-5 pages in length. (Public debate and revisions etc. precede the final iteration of the bill.) The People vote on bills themselves, in real time, alerted to their duty via internet connection with auto reminders if you haven't signed in and voted. Vote tally has to meet a minimum of citizen participation, but the education system has inculcated citizens on their duty so this is typically not an issue, at least in the early decades of the new system. Time at one's place of employment is allotted for perusal of bills and voting. Businesses are penalized when their employees are prohibited from logging in for such or fail to participate. The new system has adapted to and invested in the absolute need for citizen involvement. Special interests don't ever get a seat at the table. Lobbying, influence peddling, that crap is a thing of the past, monitored by built-in security because the citizenry has learned from history. Something like that. Many, many moving parts. Up to us to build it. I'm not smart enough to figure it all out. Only pipe dream it and put it out there. Maybe I'm delusional. -?
But... but... when we -The People- exterminate the vermin and overhaul the system with its new checks... shoot. Pigs fly, right?
Another soaring pig idea is that since we also overhaul the education system as tritorch suggests, upon reaching age, say, 28, every educated citizen becomes part of the servant pool, like the jury pool. Intelligence matters. So does character. That winnows the eligible pool. Anyone can be called to serve. There is civic desire baked into the psyche as a result of the education system. It's desirable to have your number come up. Term limits, always. No career politicians. Elections, still. Mentorship for newcomers to the office as part of the transition. Support teams built into the office, also with contracts limiting how long they can stay in the job. There is constant rotation, as said always with mentorship for newcomers; a passing of the baton. No career government jobs. It's a whole new system, same or similar offices and functions but only a shadow of what we have now. Pigs fly, right? Oh wait, I said that already. Not to mention @Fla Mom has set me on the straight. But... but... Eeesh. Never mind.
Read Federalist 10 for the long version of 'yes, you're delusional.' That type of direct democracy has been tried many times in history and has been found to be both unfair (insufficient protection for minorities [not meaning racial minorities, in the modern fashion]) and unstable. Read also Plato's account of the suicide of Aristotle. The people who voted him 'off the island' regretted it almost immediately, but he was already dead. Also: people (as a group) don't really seem to learn from history, possibly because they're not taught it. For this example, read Polybius' The Histories, Book 6 (circa 100 BC). It should sound very familiar.
The only way forward is massive, perpetual, civic participation. The populace must watch the government like a hawk.
At the core, most of the problems with government are an education problem first and foremost because the citizenry has failed to do its job of oversight. To solve this, make classes on civics, critical thinking, logical fallacies, and the bias spectrum mandatory from k-12. Create an informed citizenry with a strong sense of what is at stake if they do not keep their government in check.
I second. Been sayin it for years. Also floating the idea that our elected representatives (though likely many are selected, yet another thing that has to be remedied) only craft legislation. Bills are not massive but instead are short and to the point, no more than 4-5 pages in length. (Public debate and revisions etc. precede the final iteration of the bill.) The People vote on bills themselves, in real time, alerted to their duty via internet connection with auto reminders if you haven't signed in and voted. Vote tally has to meet a minimum of citizen participation, but the education system has inculcated citizens on their duty so this is typically not an issue, at least in the early decades of the new system. Time at one's place of employment is allotted for perusal of bills and voting. Businesses are penalized when their employees are prohibited from logging in for such or fail to participate. The new system has adapted to and invested in the absolute need for citizen involvement. Special interests don't ever get a seat at the table. Lobbying, influence peddling, that crap is a thing of the past, monitored by built-in security because the citizenry has learned from history. Something like that. Many, many moving parts. Up to us to build it. I'm not smart enough to figure it all out. Only pipe dream it and put it out there. Maybe I'm delusional. -?
We need to realize that the bills are written by lobbyists. Being in Congress is quite an easy gig.
But... but... when we -The People- exterminate the vermin and overhaul the system with its new checks... shoot. Pigs fly, right?
Another soaring pig idea is that since we also overhaul the education system as tritorch suggests, upon reaching age, say, 28, every educated citizen becomes part of the servant pool, like the jury pool. Intelligence matters. So does character. That winnows the eligible pool. Anyone can be called to serve. There is civic desire baked into the psyche as a result of the education system. It's desirable to have your number come up. Term limits, always. No career politicians. Elections, still. Mentorship for newcomers to the office as part of the transition. Support teams built into the office, also with contracts limiting how long they can stay in the job. There is constant rotation, as said always with mentorship for newcomers; a passing of the baton. No career government jobs. It's a whole new system, same or similar offices and functions but only a shadow of what we have now. Pigs fly, right? Oh wait, I said that already. Not to mention @Fla Mom has set me on the straight. But... but... Eeesh. Never mind.
Read Federalist 10 for the long version of 'yes, you're delusional.' That type of direct democracy has been tried many times in history and has been found to be both unfair (insufficient protection for minorities [not meaning racial minorities, in the modern fashion]) and unstable. Read also Plato's account of the suicide of Aristotle. The people who voted him 'off the island' regretted it almost immediately, but he was already dead. Also: people (as a group) don't really seem to learn from history, possibly because they're not taught it. For this example, read Polybius' The Histories, Book 6 (circa 100 BC). It should sound very familiar.
Thanks for the references as I pre-confirm my delusions. Feelin a mite deflated. Sigh.
Exactly.