What do you think about direct democracy?

[Roubignol]

Hi,

As Swiss and French citizen, I can see a huge difference between both countries.
France is still a sort of monarchy. People elect politicians that wrote laws that give them a total authority. In comparison Switzerland is a more democratic country in which the decision of the population can be written and changed the Constitution.

What do you think about direct democracy?
Good, bad, would you like to change the rules of your country to create a more democratic country?

[LadyLuck]

Originally Posted by xyzde69

What do you think about direct democracy?

I think it's feasible in a country of 8 million people. It gets a little more difficult in a country of 300 million people.

[Roubignol]

Originally Posted by LadyLuck

I think it's feasible in a country of 8 million people. It gets a little more difficult in a country of 300 million people.

But your American States are countries and are less populated than 300 millions.
California only get 40 millions inhabitants.
Only eleven American states are more populated than 9 millions people.

Would you like that your state becomes a direct democracy?
There is far less corruption in a democracy in which people are not protected by specific laws in case of corruption.

[LadyLuck]

Originally Posted by xyzde69

But your American States are countries and are less populated than 300 millions.
California only get 40 millions inhabitants.
Only eleven American states are more populated than 9 millions people.

Would you like that your state becomes a direct democracy?

True enough, but our states are not entirely autonomous entities. The US Constitution provides for a certain amount of flexibility in regard to states' rights but they must still adhere to the guidelines put forth in the federal Constitution. Individual states could adopt the model solely for their state but they would still have to participate in the representative government on the national level. Think about how this might work if you had 50 Switzerlands all tied together and working under one umbrella.

It's an interesting concept that I'll confess I am not very knowledgeable about. I've done a bit of reading about it this morning since you posted your question. I think here in the US we could minimize some of the waste and corruption if we could get away from the career politician model that we currently have and instead have a citizen legislator model that allows for frequent rotation and less entrenchment in the legislature.

[otokonomidori]

"Democracy must be a failure because it places supreme authority in the hands of the poorest and most ignorant part of society."

[Roubignol]

Originally Posted by otokonomidori

"Democracy must be a failure because it places supreme authority in the hands of the poorest and most ignorant part of society."

That seems to be true, but that's the sentence written by an arrogant leader who thought he was more clever than the rest of the society.

Look at how many wars were made through Monarchies or "false democracies" runned by a pseudo-intelligencia through huge lies or stupid questions of honor.

I'd like to know, how many wars would have happened in the past, if each side of the conflict would have asked to their population:

"Do you want to fight or negotiate and leave peacefully?"

Wars always were the fact of elites writting laws that gave them the rights to kill their own male people, if they didn't want to die for their interests or "noble" causes.

That's typical of the elite to think that if you give responsabilities to a "beta" or "gamma" people instead of an "alpha" one, that the "beta" or "gamma" one will make bad jobs.

That's pure arrogance.
The fact is that leaders or elites tell you that you are unable to manage your life correctly if they let you the reins.

That's a lie. Switzerland is the best demonstration. But elites all around the world are afraid by this example.

There is a French professor called "Etienne Chouard" who wants that France become a direct democracy.
He's invited in several cities by French people who are tired of French Republic that almost looks like a monarchy. (All the decisions are taken in Paris and several times condamned professional politicians still come back in politics when they are allowed. )
Mr Chouard said on several videos that he was surprised to see how a simple worker feels responsible when he has the right to take his responsability to collaborate in writting a Constitution.

I'm sure that if tomorrow, you are in a group that get problems and you have to save the group by taking your responsabilities, you will be able to do it and do it well.
Even if until today, the elite thought that you was not that clever enough to do it.

[Roubignol]

Originally Posted by LadyLuck

True enough, but our states are not entirely autonomous entities. The US Constitution provides for a certain amount of flexibility in regard to states' rights but they must still adhere to the guidelines put forth in the federal Constitution. Individual states could adopt the model solely for their state but they would still have to participate in the representative government on the national level. Think about how this might work if you had 50 Switzerlands all tied together and working under one umbrella.

It's an interesting concept that I'll confess I am not very knowledgeable about. I've done a bit of reading about it this morning since you posted your question. I think here in the US we could minimize some of the waste and corruption if we could get away from the career politician model that we currently have and instead have a citizen legislator model that allows for frequent rotation and less entrenchment in the legislature.

But Switzerland (like Germany and USA) is a confederation of 26 states.
We get 20 states and 6 half states

We get our "Ohio", "California", our "Texas", our "Illinois", etc...
They are named Genève, Vaud, Bern, Zürich, Basel, Ticino, etc...

Our states are called "cantons". Each canton get its own police, its own education, its own medical system, its own taxes, its own laws.

Each canton is runned by a direct democracy and get its own Constitution.

Then there is the Swiss Constitution.
We share the same money, the same taxes, etc...

Almost like in the USA.

I always said the USA are a big Switzerland in a lot of ways... apart the fact that WE (the Swiss people) don't let our elite to make all what they want during their mandate.
That's the main difference. We believe in our people, when you don't believe in your own potential and let the reins to very rich populists.

[cginok]

Originally Posted by otokonomidori

"Democracy must be a failure because it places supreme authority in the hands of the poorest and most ignorant part of society."

Otherwise known as "Tyranny of the masses."

[jonojop]

The Russian communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin said "Democracy is indispensable to socialism."

[Roubignol]

Originally Posted by cginok

Otherwise known as "Tyranny of the masses."

So what do you propose? Dictature or anarchy?