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Originally posted by Dj Tomer Good idea if it was feasible, but unfortunately human nature would never allow something like that. The difference between an open source project and an 'open source community' is that the Programmers (or whatever) that are working on the project are all qualified individuals who are selected by the company hiring them because of their skill, while as an open source community lets everyone has a say. I'm not saying that not everyone should have a say in decision making, but just that thing would definitely not run as smoothly.

well yes you might be right. but with for example the linux kernel, its a huge amount of people that uses it, but only the people that really know what they are doing are helping out with further developing it. My idea would be that it would be the same with the "open source community", that only the people that are interested in a particular subject will be involved in those questions. It would still be many people but i think it might be possible.

Of course there would be huge problems when a highly sensetive question comes up, that everyone want to have a say in, even the n00bs.

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Then there's the whole issue of the system being hacked somehow or just generally corrupted by the politicians without the public's knowledge.

true in a sense, i still think corruption like that would be easier to see if the society would be as open as this.

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I really dont think any type of government could ever be very efficient with the way 95% of people are nowadays.

this would bring change my friend and educate people perhaps

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Originally posted by St_Andrew this would bring change my friend and educate people perhaps

lets start a canadian party and try and get this started then

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Originally posted by Dj Tomer lets start a canadian party and try and get this started then

lol, im all for it... canada doesnt have any stupid rules like the US about that you have to be born in the country to be the prime minister i hope?

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Originally posted by St_Andrew lol, im all for it... canada doesnt have any stupid rules like the US about that you have to be born in the country to be the prime minister i hope?

Who knows, if they do we'll overthrow the government in a violent coup. We'll organize a mob with promises of beer and bringing back hockey

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Agreed... Democracy in its current form is silly.

While I don't neccesarily agree with your implementation I agree with your direction.

I think the biggest problem with democracy is the concept that the ignorant are allowed to vote on a topic that they are well ignorant of

If I have grade 11 economics, do I really want an opinion on voting which budget is the best?

I would like to see a system where you have to pass "proficiency" tests in order to vote on various topics. If you want to vote on the topic, then you have to have read up about it, and have some understanding of the mechanics etc.

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What you really want is to give informed people options.

And I think part of the answer might be found in "modular" bills. Where Party A gives you parts 1,2,3,4,5 and party B gives you parts 6,7,8,9,10, and then you can vote on the best "modules" to form a combined bill that might consists of 1,5,7,9,10 or 1,2,3,4,5 etc.
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The biggest issue in government though is always the budget. Since the distribution of tax money determines all other areas of government. You give +500 million to health care you have to figure out how to spend it.

So to address that I think that everyone would get a vote on a ballot that would look something like this (first draft to give you an idea):
Healthcare +10%
Defense -10%
Education - +20%
Taxation - -10%
And then you would total all these up and say "Alright the majority of citizens want increased spending on Education. So we will shift money around and it works out they get an extra 500 million, so each party with at least 20% of the popular vote is allowed to propose a modular education bill that delineates how to spend that extra money.

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your pearl casting hero

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Originally posted by Subey I think the biggest problem with democracy is the concept that the ignorant are allowed to vote on a topic that they are well ignorant of

The problem is that the media does nothing to educate people nowadays about politics and the things that really matter. They only tell us what the politicians tell them to tell us.

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I still believe a republican form of democracy can still work (must be clear republican does not mean the party here!), but some serious changes are needed. I'm going based on the U.S. version since I know it best. First thing needed is the opposite of what is currently happening with the FCC, as media conglomerates need to be broken up to allow more voices and ideas, along with more criticism. A proportional electoral system is also needed to provide more parties access to and say in government. Something like Britain's "Questions to the Prime Minister" needs to be made law as well as one for the media too, which would be for the president, cabinet and other top officials, so they must answer questions about their policies and they cannot be selective in which media reporters they address. Government elections also must be publicly funded. You get X many signatures on a petition and you are on the ballot and gain the same amount of money as other candidates, none of your own money can be used, no soft money allowed, no 527 groups. also term limits must exist for congress as well.

OK that's my start right now, I have class to go to. Maybe I'll write more later and yes, I realize this isn't going happen for a variety of reasons, particularly because those in the current political system would have top enact these changes, but just an idea that might improve things if they did occur.

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Download My Spring '08 Mix Here

Thurs May 15: Influence @ Tini Martini w/ Kris B. vs. Nosmo, Rikler & Mike Palmeri
Thurs June 5: Under the Influence @ Tini Martini w/Mathias Matthew, Jack Kim & more TBA

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Originally posted by wolverine16 I still believe a republican form of democracy can still work (must be clear republican does not mean the party here!), but some serious changes are needed. I'm going based on the U.S. version since I know it best. First thing needed is the opposite of what is currently happening with the FCC, as media conglomerates need to be broken up to allow more voices and ideas, along with more criticism. A proportional electoral system is also needed to provide more parties access to and say in government. Something like Britain's "Questions to the Prime Minister" needs to be made law as well as one for the media too, which would be for the president, cabinet and other top officials, so they must answer questions about their policies and they cannot be selective in which media reporters they address. Government elections also must be publicly funded. You get X many signatures on a petition and you are on the ballot and gain the same amount of money as other candidates, none of your own money can be used, no soft money allowed, no 527 groups. also term limits must exist for congress as well. OK that's my start right now, I have class to go to. Maybe I'll write more later and yes, I realize this isn't going happen for a variety of reasons, particularly because those in the current political system would have top enact these changes, but just an idea that might improve things if they did occur.

Well i live in a republic..and its quite funny that quite a few points outlined in your post above auctually do happen here to some extent..but politicans being politicans..in most western societys they will find every loophole that exists in the law and exploit it for political advantage..

Uthopian ideas and politics i dont think they mix.

Thats not to say that things dont change,they do,but usually through scandal or somebody caught with his finger in the till in some shape or form.

Cynical point of view but possibly realistic,but only my ophinion.

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Originally posted by zig Well i live in a republic..and its quite funny that quite a few points outlined in your post above auctually do happen here to some extent..but politicans being politicans..in most western societys they will find every loophole that exists in the law and exploit it for political advantage.. Uthopian ideas and politics i dont think they mix. Thats not to say that things dont change,they do,but usually through scandal or somebody caught with his finger in the till in some shape or form. Cynical point of view but possibly realistic,but only my ophinion.

Yeah, I'm heavily interested in foreign governments, so I did borrow a few ideas from other countries. I think the problems in why these loopholes constantly get used is that the people who make the laws are designing them for their own use. I lived in Massachusetts for a few years and enough citizens finally came together to create electrion reform and public campaigns and after the referendum passed the state congressional members tried to vote it down, though I believe it ultimately passed with some changes. A sort of national referendum policy, where the people can overrule the congress, just as congress can do so to the president with a supermajority would be a way to occassionally create change. This is another mechanism that is used in some governments and even parts of the U.S. already (e.g. California). Of course this also fails, like basically everything else, without a free and aggressive media that scrutinizes and reports everything from all angles. That seems to be the prime catalyst for change, as people only can think about what they are aware of.

OK, I'll stop mindlessly ranting for the rest of the day and practice mixing

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Download My Spring '08 Mix Here

Thurs May 15: Influence @ Tini Martini w/ Kris B. vs. Nosmo, Rikler & Mike Palmeri
Thurs June 5: Under the Influence @ Tini Martini w/Mathias Matthew, Jack Kim & more TBA