A Small Idea With Big Potential, page 1
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ATS Members have flagged this thread 3 times
Topic started on 3-5-2010 @ 01:37 PM by pablos
I have had an idea raging inside me for a long time now. It would really be more of a dream.

You see I have long held that the problem with democracy tends to be the majority rules logic behind it. A lot of Australia's government can found strategy and policy based on 51% of people voting it in. To me this is bad governing as there is so little difference between what is majority and what is minority.

The same cannot be said when it comes to elected officials. The problem I see there is the party system. Too many people just constantly vote for the same party no matter what. It is on the same par as religion or football. You won't find me for instance changing my religious views very quickly nor my allegiance to M.F.C.

I can point out two solutions to these problems, though I know many would disagree with them. The only other catch is that if it ever were achievable it will be at a future time and only after major alteration and preparation.

I will deal with the second first.
I believe we must rid ourselves of the party system as we know it. Instead ( I can hear the collective shudder) everyone that would like to join up goes into a database. There are then drafts to select a set number of people randomly across the country. Yearly in nature this would eliminate the current sickening trend of promising change... after the next election. Also it would somewhat eliminate the problem of people supporting that which they normally wouldn't just because their team suggested it. It would offer a true cross section of the community and it's needs, rather than what we have: a parliament full of people slimy enough to rise that far up through party politics.

The next solution concludes the first.
I think that when we have this in effect it would be a lot easier to take just being told what is being enacted and changed. We could still keep the vital bureaucrats and staffers reluctantly needed to take care of the minutiae of turning things into law.

Anyway I think it would be a good system to have in place for the future. Would be interested for feedback. There are problems with what I say, but if anyone reads this and thinks of them I am sure I will be told exactly what they think. That is good though. It is a serious idea and some other option needs to be found in a time when politicians are exeedingly removed from the real world.

Cheers
Pablosity


reply posted on 3-5-2010 @ 02:15 PM by pablos
reply to post by Atlantican



Mate which other people in the right place do you mean exactly? Wouldn't mind more info on that call. It is a difficult subject matter fraught with unknowns. Any help formulating a viable model would be appreciated.



reply posted on 3-5-2010 @ 10:32 PM by mumma in pyjamas
reply to post by andy1033



In Australia you have to vote or you get fined.
Because so many people have no interest in politics,So many people seem so resigned to the fact nothing ever happens and their lives are never impacted in a positive way that they just habitually vote for the same party election after election, usually the same party their parents voted for, often without even knowing the policies of each party.

This leads to complacency in the political ranks.They have forgotten they are OUR servants, in fact they are even labeled as leaders, which to me is clearly at odds with the supposed role of "serving" your electorate.
That is why the 2 party system is so flawed,and in OZ you have to vote, so they assume you have o vote for one of them, which sadly is true,because even though there are any number of minor parties and in dependent candidates people see it as throwing the vote away, i see 2 party voting as throwing your vote away, it's a vote for complacency, it's a vote for a government who does not listen, rather tells.Which is not true democracy at all.


reply posted on 6-5-2010 @ 04:02 AM by pablos
reply to post by Liberal1984



I don't really want people voted out. Just short term periods so no one gets that sinister complacency that tends to follow professional politicians. Maybe one year. It ensures a freshness of opinion and debate.

I believe we could then stop paying for politicians pensions for the rest of their lives, which would definitely reduce the cost of maintaining parliament.

Cheers


reply posted on 12-8-2010 @ 02:30 AM by mumma in pyjamas
reply to post by pablos



With a federal election looming i am again painfully reminded that I do no wish to have either party controlling our interests in the thinly veiled guise of representation.

In the unlikely event I am able to relate to a minor party enough to vote for them i am likely to disagree with their allocation of preferences.

Party politics as we know it needs to be replaced.
I am for the candidate voluntary "conscription" model you have suggested.


reply posted on 12-8-2010 @ 03:37 AM by mumma in pyjamas
reply to post by RainCloud



Major political parties that currently operate may be etrenched in a culture of loyalties ad controlling influences.If yu wan't to be involved with, and rise to prominence within such major parties you must learn to guard these influences and interests.

It seems more likely that under the suggested model it would be far harder for the 'puppet masters' to control political interests.
With no party to conform to an independent candidate has no reason to buckle to powers that weild little influence over their political career.


reply posted on 12-8-2010 @ 06:13 PM by ghostsoldier
reply to post by For(Home)Country



I agree, if we did what The Greens are advocating which is essentially an end to party donations above a threshold that would qualify/identify as buying political influence, real politicians would begin to emerge.

What we need is a participatory democracy like Venezuela has been building. Or a direct democracy like Switzerland (I think? may be Sweden)

A yearly parliamentary turn around wouldn't be too good either, I am in favor of extending our term, from 3 to 4 years and when society is evolved enough to 10.

As it stands now, after you get elected you've got.

1 year to settle in, get organised and begin
1 year to oversee your plans put in a few new ones and basically brag
1 year to cop heavy flak from the opposition and prepare for an election.
repeat.

The main thing, is to get money out of the equation - that way the lobbys don't have any power beyond candinates coming from them (which can then be put to the public)

But I agree, the 2-Party system is faulty.

I dunno, these are all just disjointed thoughts...


reply posted on 13-8-2010 @ 03:12 AM by mumma in pyjamas
reply to post by KingAtlas



In the pablos proposed model it would seem (we shall have to ask him)
There would be no elections, just a term of service, like military service, is that right pablos?

As it is, depending on which set of earning statistics the gov presents us with the average pollie earns around 30,000 - 60,000 more than the average worker.The wage does not necessarily have to be average, it should be above average to encourage a broader section of the community to participate.
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