I'd argue that the system is designed or at least indifferent to a majority being uninterested in the politics that influences their daily life.
When you get to vote every 4 years on all topics at once while the choice you make is afterwards still influenced by corruption, coalition an lobbying that doesn't further interest into politics at all.
Imho: Let's abandon representatives with fixed legislation periods all together and either elect officials only if they can be removed by public vote at any time or skip the corrupt representatives completely and let the public vote on any matter individually. This way ones choice has an actual impact an people have motivation to actually get informed on specific matters.
One might suggest a democracy of action/labor, where you do the things you feel like matter in the world in the ways you feel are best. 'If you care, do the work' in a broad sense.
It raises issues of ableism that need to be worked out, but its not like amy current systems dont fuck people, still encourages ambition, and makes things like amassing power more difficult.
this has some truth to it, but electoralism is not democracy. don't let this discourage yourself from voting or from preferring democracy over a dictatorship or so.
democracy is not for comoensating voters being stupid. they can be, but their intelligence is completely disregarded for the systems existence. it's about being able to swap out the person in charge without a murderous power struggle.
there's a lot of competition for being in charge and traditionally this meant whoever was able to violently subdue their enemies first got to be in charge and had to constantly, violently suppress opposition.
this was obviously horrible and only happens in democracies when someone tries to change them back into a more athoritarian regime and it's time for the people to rise and fight to protect their freedom.
I always thought of it as more of an efficiency thing. Perhaps a bad analogy, but let's say I have a few hundred photos I took on vacation. Yes, I could store them all together in a single batch. However, grouping them with some kind of predetermined taxonomy can help make sense of things through the noise. In a similar fashion, elected officials, imperfect though they may be, consolidate the voices of many into the voices of a few. At a certain scale and across certain distances it does make sense.
I think it was somewhere here in Lemmy, but I saw a proposal of randomized government appointments akin to jury duty which I found quite fun. Good way to make sure the populace is smart because any of them may be called up.
Yeah, it's more about that. The fastest acting, lowest overhead form of government is a dictatorship. The slowest would probably be trying to reach a consensus from discussion with the whole populace. You'll always need delegates for decision making if you want to make any society wide decisions, but it has proven very hard to make elected officials actually act in the people's best interest.
Some people are good rulers. Some are really bad. With the fucked up system we have, we tend to get the bad rulers because they crave power. The good leaders don't and won't make it as far, as the competition is willing to do whatever is needed to gain power. That's why this system needs to go. If we want a system with leaders, we need to hold them accountable for lies, corruption, mistakes, etc. A leader should need to pass tests of intelligence and clean a clean past. But most importantly, a psychological test.
But since bad people will always play dirty to gain power, it's best to ditch the entire system and leaders all together.
I like Asimov's (or maybe Heinlein's) thought on the matter.
Anyone who wants to be a public official should be disqualified from office. Officials should be dragged in kicking and screaming and only be allowed to leave when they've done a good job.
People think that democracy is fantastic, just vote for what you want and it will be given.
Nothing is further from the truth.
Democracy has one and only one specificity that puts them over the others, it's that you can kick a bad leader out (without bloodshed).
That's it!
Now before our american friends tells me I'm wrong, you have to have a functional democracy, which you don't.
Personally it's literally the only thing that, IMO, is missing from anarchism (are there anarchist systems with strict voting rules?). But that's just my personal view of course.
Power struggles are destructive. The purpose of a representatve democracy is to change leaders without damaging the infrastructure necessary to generate wealth. This guy made a good video about it.
They can be educated about what decisions each party made, is making and is promising to make.
Then based upon that, weigh the pros and cons, and pick whatever they want to live with.
There are 2 terminal problems with that:
You cant actually live how you want to in most cases because there are other people that should vote in their own favor.
Nobody has time and willpower after a stressfull work day to indulge into politics, because it is not apart of our culture these days, to fully care about that which controls our lives: politics, politicians and mafia.
I have a solution to this, but you probably dont want to hear it.
So a world where, lets say, anarchist, liberal and fascist "clans" coexist peacefully, freedom of movement is guaranteed and supported by all those clans and information regarding all existing clans are available freely so people can make informed decisions?
While not quite exactly, the situation you're describing isn't too far off from some of the ways people have lived historically. I 10/10 recommend reading The Dawn of Everything if you're interested. Some of that research really changed my thoughts about what is possible.
That was not my intention, instead I tried to repeat your idea in my own words to make sure I actually understand. Also I intentionally added kinda opposing factions and the concept "freedom of movement" to my question to make the idea more clear to me and others.
Also your idea reminds a little of the "World where many worlds fit" idea that comes from (or I have first learned of when reading) zapatista texts.
I think many electoralists are motivated by capitalism, and that's why they hate the idea of us ruling ourselves. That's why they'd rather us play their rigged game electing a capitalist of their choosing.
I don't think there is a system that is fully stupid resistant. Some are more stupid resistant than others, but it isn't a coincidence that the more democratic a country is, the "smarter" it is.
For example, Russia invading Ukraine, very stupid idea. Or consider that the more authortarian/undemocratic america has become the more it is unreasonable/psychotic.
49 Comments
Mudman@sh.itjust.works · 25 pts · 123d
That's why they give you just a couple of options to vote for and even then they rig the whole thing. lol
A404@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 8 pts · 123d
There's a reason why kings used to create chiefdoms by force
GardenGeek@europe.pub · 16 pts · 123d
I'd argue that the system is designed or at least indifferent to a majority being uninterested in the politics that influences their daily life.
When you get to vote every 4 years on all topics at once while the choice you make is afterwards still influenced by corruption, coalition an lobbying that doesn't further interest into politics at all.
Imho: Let's abandon representatives with fixed legislation periods all together and either elect officials only if they can be removed by public vote at any time or skip the corrupt representatives completely and let the public vote on any matter individually. This way ones choice has an actual impact an people have motivation to actually get informed on specific matters.
dansemacabreingalone@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 7 pts · 123d
One might suggest a democracy of action/labor, where you do the things you feel like matter in the world in the ways you feel are best. 'If you care, do the work' in a broad sense.
It raises issues of ableism that need to be worked out, but its not like amy current systems dont fuck people, still encourages ambition, and makes things like amassing power more difficult.
lurch@sh.itjust.works · 14 pts · 123d
this has some truth to it, but electoralism is not democracy. don't let this discourage yourself from voting or from preferring democracy over a dictatorship or so.
democracy is not for comoensating voters being stupid. they can be, but their intelligence is completely disregarded for the systems existence. it's about being able to swap out the person in charge without a murderous power struggle.
there's a lot of competition for being in charge and traditionally this meant whoever was able to violently subdue their enemies first got to be in charge and had to constantly, violently suppress opposition.
this was obviously horrible and only happens in democracies when someone tries to change them back into a more athoritarian regime and it's time for the people to rise and fight to protect their freedom.
A404@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 123d
I probably should have used another word for the title tbh
Artaca@lemdro.id · 13 pts · 123d
I always thought of it as more of an efficiency thing. Perhaps a bad analogy, but let's say I have a few hundred photos I took on vacation. Yes, I could store them all together in a single batch. However, grouping them with some kind of predetermined taxonomy can help make sense of things through the noise. In a similar fashion, elected officials, imperfect though they may be, consolidate the voices of many into the voices of a few. At a certain scale and across certain distances it does make sense.
I think it was somewhere here in Lemmy, but I saw a proposal of randomized government appointments akin to jury duty which I found quite fun. Good way to make sure the populace is smart because any of them may be called up.
LwL@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 122d
Yeah, it's more about that. The fastest acting, lowest overhead form of government is a dictatorship. The slowest would probably be trying to reach a consensus from discussion with the whole populace. You'll always need delegates for decision making if you want to make any society wide decisions, but it has proven very hard to make elected officials actually act in the people's best interest.
TigerAce@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 11 pts · 123d
Some people are good rulers. Some are really bad. With the fucked up system we have, we tend to get the bad rulers because they crave power. The good leaders don't and won't make it as far, as the competition is willing to do whatever is needed to gain power. That's why this system needs to go. If we want a system with leaders, we need to hold them accountable for lies, corruption, mistakes, etc. A leader should need to pass tests of intelligence and clean a clean past. But most importantly, a psychological test.
But since bad people will always play dirty to gain power, it's best to ditch the entire system and leaders all together.
village604@adultswim.fan · 3 pts · 122d
I like Asimov's (or maybe Heinlein's) thought on the matter.
Anyone who wants to be a public official should be disqualified from office. Officials should be dragged in kicking and screaming and only be allowed to leave when they've done a good job.
Valmond@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 10 pts · 123d
Aah the misconception about democracy.
People think that democracy is fantastic, just vote for what you want and it will be given.
Nothing is further from the truth.
Democracy has one and only one specificity that puts them over the others, it's that you can kick a bad leader out (without bloodshed).
That's it!
Now before our american friends tells me I'm wrong, you have to have a functional democracy, which you don't.
Personally it's literally the only thing that, IMO, is missing from anarchism (are there anarchist systems with strict voting rules?). But that's just my personal view of course.
dansemacabreingalone@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 16 pts · 123d
Thats not democracy. Democracy is rule by the people.
You mean 'electoral representative democracy' which you describe accurately. Other kinds do exist.
Not that any of thrm are allowed or americans believe they exist.
nimpnin@sopuli.xyz · 5 pts · 123d
We should go back to sortition: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sortition
A404@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 122d
But what if someone with bad intentions gets choosen?
nimpnin@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 122d
One person does not make decisions, that one person would need to convince everybody else who got selected.
A404@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 12 pts · 123d
Power struggles are destructive. The purpose of a representatve democracy is to change leaders without damaging the infrastructure necessary to generate wealth. This guy made a good video about it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rStL7niR7gs
libre_warrior@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 122d
If democracies work, why are they against humanity?
Using Norway, Sweden and Denmark as deem for supporting the Knesset raid upon palestinians.
Valmond@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 0 pts · 122d
Oh no a tankie, no wonder you don't like democracy.
Blocked.
libre_warrior@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 122d
not a tankie
JadenSmith@sh.itjust.works · 8 pts · 122d
TBF current rulers aren't even real rulers.
Like, are they 6ft? 6ft2in??? Like, there's absolutely no indication of their lengths.
Politicians are absolutely useless for measuring things with, and it shows.
A404@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 122d
my house is 3 obamas long
BillyGruff82@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 121d
Was trying to figure out how many Trumps old I am, and created a temporal paradox.
Stern@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 123d
Imagine not living in a monarchy.
lol
lmao even
hoohoohoot@fedinsfw.app · 6 pts · 123d
They can be educated about what decisions each party made, is making and is promising to make.
Then based upon that, weigh the pros and cons, and pick whatever they want to live with.
There are 2 terminal problems with that:
I have a solution to this, but you probably dont want to hear it.
punkisundead@slrpnk.net · 11 pts · 123d
You are in an anarchist community, you are allowed to voice radical opinions.
hoohoohoot@fedinsfw.app · 1 pts · 123d
Right.
Clans.
Imagine countries, but youre free to move to whichever clan you wanna live with, because every clan has their own rules.
These days every country has more-less the same laws so there is no choice of life, really.
And the choice should be close to you, so its feasable so you can actually move there.
This can only be achieved if the clans are smaller and bigger in numbers aka more often and not too far from every person, ideally.
punkisundead@slrpnk.net · 5 pts · 123d
So a world where, lets say, anarchist, liberal and fascist "clans" coexist peacefully, freedom of movement is guaranteed and supported by all those clans and information regarding all existing clans are available freely so people can make informed decisions?
sulfidedisburseangledafternoontipper@piefed.blahaj.zone · 4 pts · 122d
While not quite exactly, the situation you're describing isn't too far off from some of the ways people have lived historically. I 10/10 recommend reading The Dawn of Everything if you're interested. Some of that research really changed my thoughts about what is possible.
hoohoohoot@fedinsfw.app · 1 pts · 122d
Good to know, thanks
hoohoohoot@fedinsfw.app · 1 pts · 123d
Yes?
Why do you make it sound like its a joke instead of a idea worth contemplating?
dansemacabreingalone@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 123d
Because a large part of many of these practices is the exclusion of all others. Thanks for sharing, though!
hoohoohoot@fedinsfw.app · 1 pts · 123d
What you mean?
dansemacabreingalone@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 4 pts · 123d
They do not want to coexist. The existence of an 'other' is a threat/attack to them.
Read nazi philosopher carl schmitt or fiction novel 'blindsight'.
punkisundead@slrpnk.net · 2 pts · 122d
That was not my intention, instead I tried to repeat your idea in my own words to make sure I actually understand. Also I intentionally added kinda opposing factions and the concept "freedom of movement" to my question to make the idea more clear to me and others.
Also your idea reminds a little of the "World where many worlds fit" idea that comes from (or I have first learned of when reading) zapatista texts.
hoohoohoot@fedinsfw.app · 1 pts · 122d
Wow
I read that page, and it sounds promising, but im not sure how much exactly it is how I wanna live, yet.
MysticMushroom1776@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 121d
I think many electoralists are motivated by capitalism, and that's why they hate the idea of us ruling ourselves. That's why they'd rather us play their rigged game electing a capitalist of their choosing.
lugal@sopuli.xyz · 2 pts · 122d
We need a ruler because humans are too stupid to rule themselves
Looks inside
The ruler is also a human
baguettefish@discuss.tchncs.de · 1 pts · 122d
clearly we need a hot goth robot mommy to enact robot rule over all life
mickus@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 122d
I don't think there is a system that is fully stupid resistant. Some are more stupid resistant than others, but it isn't a coincidence that the more democratic a country is, the "smarter" it is.
For example, Russia invading Ukraine, very stupid idea. Or consider that the more authortarian/undemocratic america has become the more it is unreasonable/psychotic.
An exception to this would be china imo.
agent_nycto@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 122d
If people are wise enough to rule themselves, they must be picking the right rulers already!
A404@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 6 pts · 122d
But if they are wise enough to rule themselves why pick rulers at all?
agent_nycto@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 122d
You basically just re worded your post there but ok