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Democracy: sell by date.
Democracy was invented by the Athenians some 2500 years ago. What they deemed as democratic was a popular vote, much as a committee votes, sitting round a table. Of course, that's not democratic, even if the committee were elected democratically, which is rarely the case.
Of course, what we consider today as democracy is nothing like true democracy, as the elections in Ukraine, Romania, the USA, and the future election in Iraq eloquently testify. The winners in most countries form a self-perpetuating oligarchy and their decisions do not reflect the popular will (except for the USA where the cost of elections ensures that it is a plutocracy, rather than a pure oligarchy).
I suggest that the word 'democracy' has outlived its usefulness. Elections, especially in poor countries, are an expensive way of naming the members of an oligarchy, often with the risk that they have to have a new election before the term of the legislature is over.
The oligarchs present themselves for election purely for enrichment and self-aggrandisement.
I suggest that we can no longer afford these oligarchies and the sell-by date of our so-called democracy is over.
I have a proposal to replace it. Most countries have some form of lottery. MPs, representatives, senators, ministers and heads of state should be named by a national lottery for a period of office of one year. This waay, there will be no cult of the personality and the cost would be negligible. Political parties would no longer serve any useful purpose. Above all, the government will be truly by the people. Costs would be minimalised, so that more money could be used where it is needed.
Consider it a kind of conscription. The "elected" will be a true cross-section of society. The big advantage is the comfort of knowing that such a government/parliament cannot make a worse job than the "democratically" elected ones. Just think about it!
Of course, what we consider today as democracy is nothing like true democracy, as the elections in Ukraine, Romania, the USA, and the future election in Iraq eloquently testify. The winners in most countries form a self-perpetuating oligarchy and their decisions do not reflect the popular will (except for the USA where the cost of elections ensures that it is a plutocracy, rather than a pure oligarchy).
I suggest that the word 'democracy' has outlived its usefulness. Elections, especially in poor countries, are an expensive way of naming the members of an oligarchy, often with the risk that they have to have a new election before the term of the legislature is over.
The oligarchs present themselves for election purely for enrichment and self-aggrandisement.
I suggest that we can no longer afford these oligarchies and the sell-by date of our so-called democracy is over.
I have a proposal to replace it. Most countries have some form of lottery. MPs, representatives, senators, ministers and heads of state should be named by a national lottery for a period of office of one year. This waay, there will be no cult of the personality and the cost would be negligible. Political parties would no longer serve any useful purpose. Above all, the government will be truly by the people. Costs would be minimalised, so that more money could be used where it is needed.
Consider it a kind of conscription. The "elected" will be a true cross-section of society. The big advantage is the comfort of knowing that such a government/parliament cannot make a worse job than the "democratically" elected ones. Just think about it!
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