Direct Democracy

[rkmsuf]

huh?

Better solution? What's wrong with the current system?

[SunDancer]

Do you would a direct democracy work in the US, or a better solution?

I don't mean we have to vote on every issue, but we would vote for approval of the budget, major laws/bills, war, and other issues. We would vote for representitives to handle the minor things and day-to-day operations.

[cartman]

A direct demcracy didn't work in the 120 person housing co-op I lived in during college, so I don't see much chance of it working for 300 million of us Americans. :)

The founding fathers set up our system of government to get as far away from direct democracy as possible.

[Klinglerware]

Tyranny of the majority? No thanks!

[mhass]

See this forum for examples of people I do NOT want voting for my laws.

[SunDancer]

huh?

Better solution? What's wrong with the current system?

I meant would you see it as a better solution or system to the one we have established today. Basically, would it work?

[moriarty]

Do you would a direct democracy work in the US, or a better solution?

I don't mean we have to vote on every issue, but we would vote for approval of the budget, major laws/bills, war, and other issues. We would vote for representitives to handle the minor things and day-to-day operations.

Direct democracy = bad, republic = good.

Look not further than our lovely state of California. While not a direct democracy, the direct voting on propositions has created a mess and put an actor in as governor (again!).

[rkmsuf]

I meant would you see it as a better solution or system to the one we have established today. Basically, would it work?

Never.

[BrianD]

I meant would you see it as a better solution or system to the one we have established today. Basically, would it work?

Not at all. Do we even get a majority of the population to vote once every four years? We have voter fraud even when we have years to plan for an election. What would happen if we needed multiple elections each month?

[moriarty]

If you're really curious about this I would highly suggest a book, "The Future of Freedom: Illiberal Democracy at Home and Abroad".
by Fareed Zakaria

While not the central thesis of the book it does make some great points about democracy, and direct democracy.

The main thesis if I remember correctly is that countries should incorporate liberal feedoms first, then democracy, providing analysis that suggests that most countries that try to become democratic w/out freedoms fail. Which also makes it a very interesting book given our current policies in Iraq.

[Buzzbee]

Do you would a direct democracy work in the US, or a better solution?

I don't mean we have to vote on every issue, but we would vote for approval of the budget, major laws/bills, war, and other issues. We would vote for representitives to handle the minor things and day-to-day operations.
Then it wouldn't quite be a direct democracy would it?

[Sharpieman]

If you're really curious about this I would highly suggest a book, "The Future of Freedom: Illiberal Democracy at Home and Abroad".
by Fareed Zakaria

While not the central thesis of the book it does make some great points about democracy, and direct democracy.

The main thesis if I remember correctly is that countries should incorporate liberal feedoms first, then democracy, providing analysis that suggests that most countries that try to become democratic w/out freedoms fail. Which also makes it a very interesting book given our current policies in Iraq.
Yea a great book. I like his theory about how the US should have influence on other countries and try to encourage organic democracy-democracy created from the inside, not invasions and coups.

[SunDancer]

Then it wouldn't quite be a direct democracy would it?

I said to handle the day-to-day operations of the government, not the laws/bills.

[Joe]

Direct democracy = bad, republic = good.

Look not further than our lovely state of California. While not a direct democracy, the direct voting on propositions has created a mess and put an actor in as governor (again!).

it didn't turn out too bad the first time around.