Good point. The elites will always be with us, and largely run things. However there is a role for ordinary people. How this comes about is a good question and there will always be some who can’t or won’t participate. In the current arrangement, people are charged with choosing which elites have power. There is certainly room for more di…
Good point. The elites will always be with us, and largely run things. However there is a role for ordinary people. How this comes about is a good question and there will always be some who can’t or won’t participate. In the current arrangement, people are charged with choosing which elites have power. There is certainly room for more direct democracy. But what to do when the interests of the elites diverge with those in power? In our case, the American public was against bailing out the financiers in 2008. Ignored. But instead of just throwing up your hands, why not try to make better arrangements?
the fundamental principle of democracy is that we all have a voice and we all get to use it and decisions are made accordingly.
not by consensus but by majority.
currently we are disenfranchised. we have no voice save once every few years when we get to 'elect' a representative who stands in our stead.
i.e., right there, we have 'no voice'. Instead my voice gets subsumed with yours into that rep.
So no voice. Gone.
But gets worse for that rep then goes to the legislature and does not even carry his autonomy to put forward the voices subsumed in him. Instead he is constrained to echo the voice of his Party.
So no voice, in spades.
Why?
Practical necessity. Physical constraints. Pragmatism. How else could it be done?
It couldn't.
Until now.
Now it can. It just needs eyes and minds to pop open.
Good point. The elites will always be with us, and largely run things. However there is a role for ordinary people. How this comes about is a good question and there will always be some who can’t or won’t participate. In the current arrangement, people are charged with choosing which elites have power. There is certainly room for more direct democracy. But what to do when the interests of the elites diverge with those in power? In our case, the American public was against bailing out the financiers in 2008. Ignored. But instead of just throwing up your hands, why not try to make better arrangements?
the fundamental principle of democracy is that we all have a voice and we all get to use it and decisions are made accordingly.
not by consensus but by majority.
currently we are disenfranchised. we have no voice save once every few years when we get to 'elect' a representative who stands in our stead.
i.e., right there, we have 'no voice'. Instead my voice gets subsumed with yours into that rep.
So no voice. Gone.
But gets worse for that rep then goes to the legislature and does not even carry his autonomy to put forward the voices subsumed in him. Instead he is constrained to echo the voice of his Party.
So no voice, in spades.
Why?
Practical necessity. Physical constraints. Pragmatism. How else could it be done?
It couldn't.
Until now.
Now it can. It just needs eyes and minds to pop open.