DebateGate
General Category => 3DHS => Topic started by: _JS on February 28, 2007, 02:40:10 PM
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When people speak of Ancient Greek Democracy they often fail to forget a key element, that is sortition. In Athens sortition was considered far more fair than elections and allowed true rule by the people as opposed to oligarchy.
So, what is sortition? Essentially it is how jury duty is supposed to work. It is a simple lottery or other method of random selection that appoints people to positions.
In this case, why not use sortition to form government. We could start at the local level where turnout is absolutely abysmal anyway. Of course, while turnout is absymal for local elections, people fail to realize that these individuals have more effect on your daily life than the president ever will. So while Jim Bob Smith gets elected police commissioner and his cousin gets elected County Treasurer for the seventh time in a row, maybe it is time to think of a new way to run things.
Sortition.
Have every region divided into Local Government Councils and all councilmembers appointed through sortition. Of course age minimums and health concerns would be taken into account. People currently in prison may have to be excluded as well. But that can all be worked out. Otherwise, why not?
Seems far more representative than elections.
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Anybody who actually wants to hold an elected office should be automatically disqualified.
8)
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and a basic IQ test given, IQ minimum of 80. Any more is not necessary to be asuccessful politician anyway.
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Insert Quote
and a basic IQ test given, IQ minimum of 80. Any more is not necessary to be asuccessful politician anyway.
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One recalls that you considerJuniorbush to be nominally successful...
I would prefer that a government be led by a smart, and well-educated person.
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In this case, why not use sortition to form government. We could start at the local level where turnout is absolutely abysmal anyway. Of course, while turnout is absymal for local elections, people fail to realize that these individuals have more effect on your daily life than the president ever will. So while Jim Bob Smith gets elected police commissioner and his cousin gets elected County Treasurer for the seventh time in a row, maybe it is time to think of a new way to run things.
How long does the term last? How much time would a libertarian or a socialist or someone get to really piss off the constituents... oops, I mean, how much time to vote/act on their principles? What about racists? How do you weed people out based on ideology? Or do you? If you do, where do you draw the line? If you do not weed people out based on ideology, why not?
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In this case, why not use sortition to form government. We could start at the local level where turnout is absolutely abysmal anyway. Of course, while turnout is absymal for local elections, people fail to realize that these individuals have more effect on your daily life than the president ever will. So while Jim Bob Smith gets elected police commissioner and his cousin gets elected County Treasurer for the seventh time in a row, maybe it is time to think of a new way to run things.
How long does the term last? How much time would a libertarian or a socialist or someone get to really piss off the constituents... oops, I mean, how much time to vote/act on their principles? What about racists? How do you weed people out based on ideology? Or do you? If you do, where do you draw the line? If you do not weed people out based on ideology, why not?
How are prospective jury embers selected?
The advesarys in the matter in question are allowd to reject a certain number of canadates from the pool.
Could each political party be allowed to reject a certain number of canadates? A party that held greater public support could be allowed a greater number of rejections.
We may never see another firebrand in office.