Our Participative Democracy Experiment
June 10th, 2008 by Jon Taplin
As per the community idea, initiated by KB, you are hereby challenged to post a short series of suggested viable actions national and local governments can enact to restore confidence in government. Each poster gets to propose two or three laws (constitutional or statutory) they would propose if they were in congress.
The ground rules are no personal attacks or no snide judgements allowed. I will moderate, and enter a tag saying “Poster X needs to edit his post to meet the ground rules.” and hold to it until they conform. Each poster gets one shot for this particular forum, so it better be good. We will then bring the best ideas into a second round of refinement.
Have fun.
All tax returns will be made public. A web based dashboard should be created that displays projected city, state, and federal budgets down to the line item, showing where the money in every suggested budget goes to geographically and demographically. Each voter will be able to register with the system to apportion how they would like to see the money spent.
Voters would be paid $100 annually for going through the entire process. Part of this simulation will display the effect of debt on their children, as well as describing which benefits served or cut off will effect which groups.
Grandfathered in clause: All city, state, and federal candidates will be required to have played the game for 5 years minimum before they can run for office – and must play every year they are in government. Their entire record will be maintained and trends in their changes will be mapped against donations and known thereon as their corruption score.
All tax returns will be made public. A web based dashboard should be created that displays projected city, state, and federal budgets down to the line item, showing where the money in every suggested budget goes to geographically and demographically. Each voter will be able to register with the system to apportion how they would like to see the money spent.
Voters would be paid $100 annually for going through the entire process. Part of this simulation will display the effect of debt on their children, as well as describing which benefits served or cut off will effect which groups.
Grandfathered in clause: All city, state, and federal candidates will be required to have played the game for 5 years minimum before they can run for office – and must play every year they are in government. Their entire record will be maintained and trends in their changes will be mapped against donations and known thereon as their corruption score.
Flat tax (or flat sales tax, whatever, I don’t care). Estonia model works fine: http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/202
I have plenty more, but not nearly enough time right now.
Flat tax (or flat sales tax, whatever, I don’t care). Estonia model works fine: http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/202
I have plenty more, but not nearly enough time right now.
- Lobbying outlawed – just classify it as bribery – and chased up with vigor.
- Flat tax rate.
- Plebiscite machines in public libraries, requiring 100 points of ID or something significant like that, to allow a public gauging of issues on a continuous basis, and any issue that issue that gets more than a 50% turnout needs discussion.
Bonus points if people could mark the issues as deciding points in who they’re going to vote for at the next election. Much better than a poll – if people are putting the effort in to head down to the library and use the machine it means they care about the issue.
And in a world with no security issues you could have a means for the people to declare a vote of no confidence in the government once there’s 80% (or some line in the sand) agreement – although that’s kind of opening the door to abuse.
- Lobbying outlawed – just classify it as bribery – and chased up with vigor.
- Flat tax rate.
- Plebiscite machines in public libraries, requiring 100 points of ID or something significant like that, to allow a public gauging of issues on a continuous basis, and any issue that issue that gets more than a 50% turnout needs discussion.
Bonus points if people could mark the issues as deciding points in who they’re going to vote for at the next election. Much better than a poll – if people are putting the effort in to head down to the library and use the machine it means they care about the issue.
And in a world with no security issues you could have a means for the people to declare a vote of no confidence in the government once there’s 80% (or some line in the sand) agreement – although that’s kind of opening the door to abuse.
Alternative energy bill to include:
Tax credits for non-carbon emitting sources large and small.
Mandatory buy back beyond current net metering of any alternative energy power put into the grid and not used.
Waste tax on new buildings that don’t have solar or meet a certain level of insulation.
Tax credits for those buying vehicles that get more than 40 mpg, and luxury tax on those that get less than 20 mpg…exemptions for legit working vehicles.
R&D tax credits for work in alternative energy
Etc. on that bill
Then:
Universal single payer health insurance
Decriminalization of recreational drugs and prostitution.
Alternative energy bill to include:
Tax credits for non-carbon emitting sources large and small.
Mandatory buy back beyond current net metering of any alternative energy power put into the grid and not used.
Waste tax on new buildings that don’t have solar or meet a certain level of insulation.
Tax credits for those buying vehicles that get more than 40 mpg, and luxury tax on those that get less than 20 mpg…exemptions for legit working vehicles.
R&D tax credits for work in alternative energy
Etc. on that bill
Then:
Universal single payer health insurance
Decriminalization of recreational drugs and prostitution.
I believe that the success of “participative democracy” depends on extra-legislative arrangements and modes, but here are three dreamy congressional initiatives that would help repair a prevent much of the damage done by American government. The first two could be done with conventional legislation. The third, to be a congressional play, would have to be submitted to the states for approval as a Consititutional amendment. (Gulp.)
1. Vacate Kelo v. City of New London, the 2005 U.S. Supreme Court decision that breached the front gates of the Fifth Amendment by permitting the taking even of the People’s homes without the slightest straight-faced glance at due process of law. (Any notional prospect of the property’s maybe somehow becoming useful to the commonweal one day, now will suffice for the exercise of eminent domain.)
2. Vacate the companion cases Jewell v. NBC News, and Jewell v. Cox Enterprises, which innoculate the Press against any journalistic responsibility for defaming any citizen, even if the tort results in the destruction of the person’s reputation and livelihood, provided the false and malicious coverage had brought enough notoriety to the victim to make him a “Public Figure”. Vacating those two cases would close the open season on anybody anyone finds of public interest, and would require “news media outlets” to do their homework as reporters. It would help to put the Press back into the First Amendment.
3. Amend the Constitution to occupy education for the first time, but only insofar as to stipulate that no state granting diplomas, degrees or certificates of educational mastery may do so only on the basis of demonstrably retained competencies of the state’s choosing, and not with reference to how, or over what period, those competencies were achieved. This will reserve to the states the right to decide whether to provide formal or other means of education, but will shift the emphasis from processes to outcomes. In consideration of binding the states in this way, the amendment could contain a prohibition against any federal mandate of specific competencies that the states must require. The feds get out of the business of doing other than helping the states with their state efforts, but the states have to get real about merit-badges-on-the-sash instead of time-in-the-seat.
I believe that the success of “participative democracy” depends on extra-legislative arrangements and modes, but here are three dreamy congressional initiatives that would help repair a prevent much of the damage done by American government. The first two could be done with conventional legislation. The third, to be a congressional play, would have to be submitted to the states for approval as a Consititutional amendment. (Gulp.)
1. Vacate Kelo v. City of New London, the 2005 U.S. Supreme Court decision that breached the front gates of the Fifth Amendment by permitting the taking even of the People’s homes without the slightest straight-faced glance at due process of law. (Any notional prospect of the property’s maybe somehow becoming useful to the commonweal one day, now will suffice for the exercise of eminent domain.)
2. Vacate the companion cases Jewell v. NBC News, and Jewell v. Cox Enterprises, which innoculate the Press against any journalistic responsibility for defaming any citizen, even if the tort results in the destruction of the person’s reputation and livelihood, provided the false and malicious coverage had brought enough notoriety to the victim to make him a “Public Figure”. Vacating those two cases would close the open season on anybody anyone finds of public interest, and would require “news media outlets” to do their homework as reporters. It would help to put the Press back into the First Amendment.
3. Amend the Constitution to occupy education for the first time, but only insofar as to stipulate that no state granting diplomas, degrees or certificates of educational mastery may do so only on the basis of demonstrably retained competencies of the state’s choosing, and not with reference to how, or over what period, those competencies were achieved. This will reserve to the states the right to decide whether to provide formal or other means of education, but will shift the emphasis from processes to outcomes. In consideration of binding the states in this way, the amendment could contain a prohibition against any federal mandate of specific competencies that the states must require. The feds get out of the business of doing other than helping the states with their state efforts, but the states have to get real about merit-badges-on-the-sash instead of time-in-the-seat.
Citizen Jury consideration of laws.
Inserted into the process of passing laws (State and Federal) a randomly selected jury of citizens is selected to read, consider and decide on whether or not the law may proceed to enaction.
Their decision may not be over-riden and they will be encouraged to coment thoroughly.
As it stands now Jurys have the right not to enforce laws they consider improper (or draconian or whatever) . It’s called Jury Nullification.
Using Citizen Jurys brings the issue up front and hopefully disciplines the political process a little by inserting citizens into it.
There are many places where the simple expedient of inserting a Citizen Jury into a process ought short circut bad political judgment – such as town planning.
I would think something like a two thirds majority of the jury ought suffice for accepting law as the standard required does not equate to a final judgement on someones life.
A nice thing about this is its simplicity – it requires no major disruption of existing processes by creating or if found ineffective removing it.
The hoped for benefits include law written to be understood by the citizens it governs, a basic smell test on the quality of law, robust public debate and a barrier to the hasty implementation of ill considered laws (though one acknowledges a citizen jury is as likely to panic as anybody else soon after events like 9/11 and presented with the Patriot Act).
An interesting consideration would be things like the Federal Budget – should they too be passed through Citizen Juries? It might be a mechanism that helps trim pork. However the scale and complexity of that issue may be something beyond such simpe over-sight.
Citizen Jury consideration of laws.
Inserted into the process of passing laws (State and Federal) a randomly selected jury of citizens is selected to read, consider and decide on whether or not the law may proceed to enaction.
Their decision may not be over-riden and they will be encouraged to coment thoroughly.
As it stands now Jurys have the right not to enforce laws they consider improper (or draconian or whatever) . It’s called Jury Nullification.
Using Citizen Jurys brings the issue up front and hopefully disciplines the political process a little by inserting citizens into it.
There are many places where the simple expedient of inserting a Citizen Jury into a process ought short circut bad political judgment – such as town planning.
I would think something like a two thirds majority of the jury ought suffice for accepting law as the standard required does not equate to a final judgement on someones life.
A nice thing about this is its simplicity – it requires no major disruption of existing processes by creating or if found ineffective removing it.
The hoped for benefits include law written to be understood by the citizens it governs, a basic smell test on the quality of law, robust public debate and a barrier to the hasty implementation of ill considered laws (though one acknowledges a citizen jury is as likely to panic as anybody else soon after events like 9/11 and presented with the Patriot Act).
An interesting consideration would be things like the Federal Budget – should they too be passed through Citizen Juries? It might be a mechanism that helps trim pork. However the scale and complexity of that issue may be something beyond such simpe over-sight.
RE #3, I should have said “than ANY state granting diplomas,” etc.; not “no state” doing so.
RE #3, I should have said “than ANY state granting diplomas,” etc.; not “no state” doing so.
Jon–if the focus is to restore confidence in government, then first up should be term limits. Lets move the government (for the people *by* the peope) back to the people.
First increase the length of individual terms. This way there’s enough time to get accustomed to the way things work. Then impose a 2 term limit for all elected officials.
We have too many career politicians. Our government would be a lot better if a drastically larger portion of our citizens served in government at some point.
Secondly, (though I admit some surprise at agreeing with Morgan on this one), live searchable budgets for local, state, and federal governments. I don’t think that we should be able to vote per person on these budgets–we vote for the politicians who make them.
Lastly, we definitely need to do something about confidentiality/secrecy rules. There are too many types of “classified”, and the rules for applying those clasifications are either nonexistant or entirely too lax. I certainly will not argue against the need for some documents, intelligence, etc. to be classified. But when congress asks to see documents and are told by the executive branch they do not have the proper credentials, something is seriously wrong.
My three cents…
Jon–if the focus is to restore confidence in government, then first up should be term limits. Lets move the government (for the people *by* the peope) back to the people.
First increase the length of individual terms. This way there’s enough time to get accustomed to the way things work. Then impose a 2 term limit for all elected officials.
We have too many career politicians. Our government would be a lot better if a drastically larger portion of our citizens served in government at some point.
Secondly, (though I admit some surprise at agreeing with Morgan on this one), live searchable budgets for local, state, and federal governments. I don’t think that we should be able to vote per person on these budgets–we vote for the politicians who make them.
Lastly, we definitely need to do something about confidentiality/secrecy rules. There are too many types of “classified”, and the rules for applying those clasifications are either nonexistant or entirely too lax. I certainly will not argue against the need for some documents, intelligence, etc. to be classified. But when congress asks to see documents and are told by the executive branch they do not have the proper credentials, something is seriously wrong.
My three cents…
1. Enact a Conflict of Interest constitutional amendment that makes it a criminal offense to sponsor or vote for any legislation that substantially profits any individual, agency, or business that has contributed directly or indirectly more than $2,000 to a legislator’s election campaign. Substantially profits will be defined as profiting the contributor more than the baseline contribution limit. The limit amount will be tied to the consumer price index.
2. No local, state, or federal legislation may be passed into law without identifying the funding mechanism necessary to cover costs of implementing it. All bills will be required to state that they will either be funded by existing general funds, tax increases, or by cutting named programs by the requisite amount, or combinations of these. If the funding does not meet the requirements of the legislation, the program will be capped at the amount raised. If the program costs are less than the projected amount, the unspent amount will apply to the national debt.
3. Mandatory service by all citizens on graduation. The individual can elect to serve in the military, the Ameri-corps, teacher’s corps, or the Peace Corps or other similar bodies.
1. Enact a Conflict of Interest constitutional amendment that makes it a criminal offense to sponsor or vote for any legislation that substantially profits any individual, agency, or business that has contributed directly or indirectly more than $2,000 to a legislator’s election campaign. Substantially profits will be defined as profiting the contributor more than the baseline contribution limit. The limit amount will be tied to the consumer price index.
2. No local, state, or federal legislation may be passed into law without identifying the funding mechanism necessary to cover costs of implementing it. All bills will be required to state that they will either be funded by existing general funds, tax increases, or by cutting named programs by the requisite amount, or combinations of these. If the funding does not meet the requirements of the legislation, the program will be capped at the amount raised. If the program costs are less than the projected amount, the unspent amount will apply to the national debt.
3. Mandatory service by all citizens on graduation. The individual can elect to serve in the military, the Ameri-corps, teacher’s corps, or the Peace Corps or other similar bodies.
To my mind, participatory democracy requires unlimited terms, not restricted ones. The problem, it seems, is not “career politicians”, but a lack of any real accountability or participation. If someone can manage to get re-elected, by taking care of their electorate for their whole lives, I’m fine with them sitting in office from cradle to grave.
My suggestion would be to develop some kind of authority or department of information technology, which would work with communities to impliment workable municipal internet access and associated infrastructures. This would probably work best at the state or regional level (maybe something on the order of the TVA from the New Deal) since state administrators often have a better sense of the regional geographies and social relations of the communities they serve than federal admins do. Building participatory democracy requires building its infrastructure, and publicly funded municipal internet would be a great start.
To my mind, participatory democracy requires unlimited terms, not restricted ones. The problem, it seems, is not “career politicians”, but a lack of any real accountability or participation. If someone can manage to get re-elected, by taking care of their electorate for their whole lives, I’m fine with them sitting in office from cradle to grave.
My suggestion would be to develop some kind of authority or department of information technology, which would work with communities to impliment workable municipal internet access and associated infrastructures. This would probably work best at the state or regional level (maybe something on the order of the TVA from the New Deal) since state administrators often have a better sense of the regional geographies and social relations of the communities they serve than federal admins do. Building participatory democracy requires building its infrastructure, and publicly funded municipal internet would be a great start.
You could always select politicians like you select a jury. Randomly choose a group of people over the voting age, allow them all to state their policies in a publicly available space, perhaps give each of them a nominal amount of campaign funding, and then elect from the pool.
Then when their term is over they get impeached – all of their dealings are gone over with a fine-toothed comb, and if they are found to have been bribed or to have been involved in a conflict of interest the penalties should be severe.
More extreme versions (and perhaps ill-advised) could (slightly) reduce the amount of privacy available to office holders during their term (or from their naming in the pool to the end of their term) in order to be able to more effectively scrutinize their actions.
It’d become more of a duty than a career, but that might be a good thing.
You could always select politicians like you select a jury. Randomly choose a group of people over the voting age, allow them all to state their policies in a publicly available space, perhaps give each of them a nominal amount of campaign funding, and then elect from the pool.
Then when their term is over they get impeached – all of their dealings are gone over with a fine-toothed comb, and if they are found to have been bribed or to have been involved in a conflict of interest the penalties should be severe.
More extreme versions (and perhaps ill-advised) could (slightly) reduce the amount of privacy available to office holders during their term (or from their naming in the pool to the end of their term) in order to be able to more effectively scrutinize their actions.
It’d become more of a duty than a career, but that might be a good thing.
Dismantle DEA
Demolish DHS
Obliterate CIA
Reinstate the Draft
Give me a Pony
Dismantle DEA
Demolish DHS
Obliterate CIA
Reinstate the Draft
Give me a Pony
With an intent to restore confidence in government, I propose we:
1) Do away with all electronic voting. Paper is not perfect – but it is more reliable than any electronic system.
2) Make the visitor logs of prominent legislative buildings available online and searchable.
3) Put all earmarks and lobbyist “contributions” online and searchable.
4) Eliminate “no-bid” government contracts.
I know that’s one more than requested, deal with it.
With an intent to restore confidence in government, I propose we:
1) Do away with all electronic voting. Paper is not perfect – but it is more reliable than any electronic system.
2) Make the visitor logs of prominent legislative buildings available online and searchable.
3) Put all earmarks and lobbyist “contributions” online and searchable.
4) Eliminate “no-bid” government contracts.
I know that’s one more than requested, deal with it.
1. All national elections to take place over a 3-day weekend on the 4th of July. Levy a fine of $50 for not voting, collectible by local boards of elections.
2. Outlaw electronic voting machines. So far they’ve not proven as secure as a common ATM. (At least hanging chads lend somthing to argue about besides 0’s and 1’s.)
3. Repeal term limits. The result so far seems to be that we still have career politicians who are spending their last term seeking a different office (or lobbying position). Let the people vote the rascals out if they want to, or keep them if they seem to be doing a good job, but by all means let the people vote.
4. Begin the process of making an amendment to the constitution to eliminate campaign contributions. This would be needed as the Supreme Court has ruled that money = free speech. This would return us to more of a marketplace of ideas and not just a marketplace where everything is for sale.
5. A 5 year mandatory jail sentence for any politician or bureaucrat taking a lobbying position in an industry they regulated within 10 years of leaving office.
1. All national elections to take place over a 3-day weekend on the 4th of July. Levy a fine of $50 for not voting, collectible by local boards of elections.
2. Outlaw electronic voting machines. So far they’ve not proven as secure as a common ATM. (At least hanging chads lend somthing to argue about besides 0’s and 1’s.)
3. Repeal term limits. The result so far seems to be that we still have career politicians who are spending their last term seeking a different office (or lobbying position). Let the people vote the rascals out if they want to, or keep them if they seem to be doing a good job, but by all means let the people vote.
4. Begin the process of making an amendment to the constitution to eliminate campaign contributions. This would be needed as the Supreme Court has ruled that money = free speech. This would return us to more of a marketplace of ideas and not just a marketplace where everything is for sale.
5. A 5 year mandatory jail sentence for any politician or bureaucrat taking a lobbying position in an industry they regulated within 10 years of leaving office.
I knew there would be a pony in here somewhere . . .
I knew there would be a pony in here somewhere . . .
A couple of small suggestions:
1. Total revision of tax codes to include gross simplification of income taxes (may be that a flat tax is the only way to achieve this), and elimination of tax breaks for corporations. This should also eliminate any incentive for companies to relocate their “headquarters” to a mail box in Bermuda to avoid taxes.
2. A constitutional amendment, or, more likely, a constitutional convention, to completely remodel our government from the present form with Senate, House of Representatives, and President elected by an electoral college, to direct election of a Parliament, with the head of government, a Prime Minister, selected by the party in control of the government. Almost exactly like the government of Great Britain. Five year terms for members of the parliament, with elections called whenever the ruling party loses a vote of confidence. Campaigns limited to six weeks. Parliament, and the government, to take power immediately upon election. This, in no small measure, would return power to the people, and make for a more responsive government. We could even have a Senate, elected for longer terms, to provide a broader perspective, as our Senate should do now. But fails miserably. There would, of course, be lots of safeguards built in, such as the death penalty for bribery or lobbying.
3. In the unlikely event that everyone does not like suggestion 2 and leap on the band wagon, then an amendment to clarify and limit the powers of the President. No “signing statements,” no going to war without Congressional approval (short-term defensive measures would, of course, be OK), none of the other myriad abuses Bush and Co have concocted. If left unchecked, or even ignored by the next President, I think the Bush precedent leads inexorably to fascism. Hell, we’re half way there now.
A couple of small suggestions:
1. Total revision of tax codes to include gross simplification of income taxes (may be that a flat tax is the only way to achieve this), and elimination of tax breaks for corporations. This should also eliminate any incentive for companies to relocate their “headquarters” to a mail box in Bermuda to avoid taxes.
2. A constitutional amendment, or, more likely, a constitutional convention, to completely remodel our government from the present form with Senate, House of Representatives, and President elected by an electoral college, to direct election of a Parliament, with the head of government, a Prime Minister, selected by the party in control of the government. Almost exactly like the government of Great Britain. Five year terms for members of the parliament, with elections called whenever the ruling party loses a vote of confidence. Campaigns limited to six weeks. Parliament, and the government, to take power immediately upon election. This, in no small measure, would return power to the people, and make for a more responsive government. We could even have a Senate, elected for longer terms, to provide a broader perspective, as our Senate should do now. But fails miserably. There would, of course, be lots of safeguards built in, such as the death penalty for bribery or lobbying.
3. In the unlikely event that everyone does not like suggestion 2 and leap on the band wagon, then an amendment to clarify and limit the powers of the President. No “signing statements,” no going to war without Congressional approval (short-term defensive measures would, of course, be OK), none of the other myriad abuses Bush and Co have concocted. If left unchecked, or even ignored by the next President, I think the Bush precedent leads inexorably to fascism. Hell, we’re half way there now.
Term limits for congress. Protect the good ones (hopefully) by allowing one-term exemptions from limit every time they get the percentage of voters to increase.
Require all bills to be read in session in congress. (will tend to keep bills short (and comprehensible), and will remove the “I supported it because I didn’t realize that provision was in there” excuse)
Force Congress to use a version tracking system for all bills (this will not only allow citizens to see all versions of a bill, but it will also show who added any given provision into a bill).
Require politicians to divest themselves of all stocks (probably with an exception of some sort for index funds). Possibly also of corporate bonds; I don’t know enough about this to know how much conflict of interest this leads to.
Term limits for congress. Protect the good ones (hopefully) by allowing one-term exemptions from limit every time they get the percentage of voters to increase.
Require all bills to be read in session in congress. (will tend to keep bills short (and comprehensible), and will remove the “I supported it because I didn’t realize that provision was in there” excuse)
Force Congress to use a version tracking system for all bills (this will not only allow citizens to see all versions of a bill, but it will also show who added any given provision into a bill).
Require politicians to divest themselves of all stocks (probably with an exception of some sort for index funds). Possibly also of corporate bonds; I don’t know enough about this to know how much conflict of interest this leads to.
1. Provide a process for accelerated education so that a student could progress at his or her own speed as far and as fast as possible.
2. Set up a system of mutual cooperation between schools and unemployment centers so that the unemployed can earn and learn and replace him or herself back into the work system while at the same time helping to dissolve the vast disparity between adults and children on school campuses.
3. Set up a tax credit system that really rewards directly those who use alternative forms of travel to get to and from work. Maybe Gary could earn a pony and a saddle blanket, too?
1. Provide a process for accelerated education so that a student could progress at his or her own speed as far and as fast as possible.
2. Set up a system of mutual cooperation between schools and unemployment centers so that the unemployed can earn and learn and replace him or herself back into the work system while at the same time helping to dissolve the vast disparity between adults and children on school campuses.
3. Set up a tax credit system that really rewards directly those who use alternative forms of travel to get to and from work. Maybe Gary could earn a pony and a saddle blanket, too?
My three wishes:
1. Like Patrick Freeman, I think the United States would be better off with a parliamentary system than it is with the present presidential/congressional system. Within the past six months I’ve read books by President Wilson (Congressional Government) and Walter Bagehot (The English Constitution) which both expressed this preference and made the case quite persuasively. This will never happen
2. Our two party system retains its hammer lock on our political process because of the way we vote. Multi-candidate districts covering a metropolitan area (for instance) would allow a local minority (like Republicans in San Francisco or Democrats in Cincinnati) an opportunity to have some representation in Congress. This would increase the opportunity to turn out ineffective representatives by limiting the usefulness of gerrymandering.
3. Instant Runoff Voting — a system which would allow voters to rank multiple candidates in order of preference without “throwing away” votes. Thus the 2000 Florida Nader voter can vote: 1) Nader, 2) my yellow dog, 3) Gore, and have their vote awarded to Gore after Nader and their dog fail to make the cut.
Having made these three wishes, let me add that I regard both term limits and (most) campaign finance reform ideas as counterproductive. Term limits make legislators weak, helpless creatures — putty in the hands of lobbyists. Campaign finance reform bogs people down in red tape without really stopping the bad guys (Swiftboat Liars). I think Dean and Obama have proven broad based low dollar fund raising can match the high rollers when the message is a compelling one.
So where’s Aladdin? I need me some wishes granted!
My three wishes:
1. Like Patrick Freeman, I think the United States would be better off with a parliamentary system than it is with the present presidential/congressional system. Within the past six months I’ve read books by President Wilson (Congressional Government) and Walter Bagehot (The English Constitution) which both expressed this preference and made the case quite persuasively. This will never happen
2. Our two party system retains its hammer lock on our political process because of the way we vote. Multi-candidate districts covering a metropolitan area (for instance) would allow a local minority (like Republicans in San Francisco or Democrats in Cincinnati) an opportunity to have some representation in Congress. This would increase the opportunity to turn out ineffective representatives by limiting the usefulness of gerrymandering.
3. Instant Runoff Voting — a system which would allow voters to rank multiple candidates in order of preference without “throwing away” votes. Thus the 2000 Florida Nader voter can vote: 1) Nader, 2) my yellow dog, 3) Gore, and have their vote awarded to Gore after Nader and their dog fail to make the cut.
Having made these three wishes, let me add that I regard both term limits and (most) campaign finance reform ideas as counterproductive. Term limits make legislators weak, helpless creatures — putty in the hands of lobbyists. Campaign finance reform bogs people down in red tape without really stopping the bad guys (Swiftboat Liars). I think Dean and Obama have proven broad based low dollar fund raising can match the high rollers when the message is a compelling one.
So where’s Aladdin? I need me some wishes granted!
IRV + more congress seats for both senate and reps
and at least partially compulsory voting (town\city council + state + fed)
the version tracking system for bills would be incredibly useful.
IRV + more congress seats for both senate and reps
and at least partially compulsory voting (town\city council + state + fed)
the version tracking system for bills would be incredibly useful.
STS, what you’re proposing sounds alarmingly like the Tasmanian electoral system, which uses the Hare Clark method to encourage individuals ahead of parties in a preferential voting system.
http://www.abc.net.au/elections/tas/2006/guide/hareclark.htm
I like Tasmania, but its politicians are notoriously flaky.
Notwithstanding the problems with Tasmania, I do support preferential voting. It makes it harder to elect fringe loonies, because even if a lot of people vote 1, enough 2 votes can get a candidate across the line.
So, my three wishes:
1. Preferential voting (pigs will fly first)
2. Campaign finance reform. I’d make it a variable limit up to 10% of the average national wage in any one electoral cycle, for local, state and federal elections, and only available to citizens, not corporations, churches or other bodies. The variable limit is so it never has to be adjusted again. If the people get poorer, the parties get poorer. But if you want to run a fringe loony group, you only get to do it with money you can raise from individuals. Implicit in this is no federal finance whatsoever. Let’s shrink this sucker down so they can’t afford to run campaigns for two years. (Rhinocerii will fly before this becomes reality)
3. Provide greater (more open) congressional oversight of the intelligence services, and a process whereby all government information is open by default unless the agencies appeal to a relevant court for permission to withhold it (eg a reversal of the current system where people have to go to court to get it released. (Is that a Whale on its way to the moon?).
Ain’t dreams wonderful?
STS, what you’re proposing sounds alarmingly like the Tasmanian electoral system, which uses the Hare Clark method to encourage individuals ahead of parties in a preferential voting system.
http://www.abc.net.au/elections/tas/2006/guide/hareclark.htm
I like Tasmania, but its politicians are notoriously flaky.
Notwithstanding the problems with Tasmania, I do support preferential voting. It makes it harder to elect fringe loonies, because even if a lot of people vote 1, enough 2 votes can get a candidate across the line.
So, my three wishes:
1. Preferential voting (pigs will fly first)
2. Campaign finance reform. I’d make it a variable limit up to 10% of the average national wage in any one electoral cycle, for local, state and federal elections, and only available to citizens, not corporations, churches or other bodies. The variable limit is so it never has to be adjusted again. If the people get poorer, the parties get poorer. But if you want to run a fringe loony group, you only get to do it with money you can raise from individuals. Implicit in this is no federal finance whatsoever. Let’s shrink this sucker down so they can’t afford to run campaigns for two years. (Rhinocerii will fly before this becomes reality)
3. Provide greater (more open) congressional oversight of the intelligence services, and a process whereby all government information is open by default unless the agencies appeal to a relevant court for permission to withhold it (eg a reversal of the current system where people have to go to court to get it released. (Is that a Whale on its way to the moon?).
Ain’t dreams wonderful?
1. Develop policies for funding culture on the national, state and local level (revitalize National Endowment of the Arts etc). Over commodification of the cultural sector has bankrupted the vitality of ideas, stifled creativity etc. This might include some form of copyright reform. It could also encompass some form of voluntary citizen activity that Ken B proposed, that enhances cultural exchange between social groups and classes.
2. A constitutional amendment that guarantees access to information (far everything from state secrecy to developing a broadband infrastructure).
3. Other have said it, but I’ll say it again. Severe limits must be put on all form of government lobbying. How this would get put into legal language, I’m not exactly sure. Lobbying should be done by the people who elect officials and not by specially funded entities.
4. Absolute minimum 20% decrease in military spending. Redirect this money into education.
1. Develop policies for funding culture on the national, state and local level (revitalize National Endowment of the Arts etc). Over commodification of the cultural sector has bankrupted the vitality of ideas, stifled creativity etc. This might include some form of copyright reform. It could also encompass some form of voluntary citizen activity that Ken B proposed, that enhances cultural exchange between social groups and classes.
2. A constitutional amendment that guarantees access to information (far everything from state secrecy to developing a broadband infrastructure).
3. Other have said it, but I’ll say it again. Severe limits must be put on all form of government lobbying. How this would get put into legal language, I’m not exactly sure. Lobbying should be done by the people who elect officials and not by specially funded entities.
4. Absolute minimum 20% decrease in military spending. Redirect this money into education.
My three amendments-
1. The American people shall elect their president directly, without the electoral college.
2. The American people will have the right to access at least as much information about their public officials as their police have the right to access about them.
3. All judicial authority will be appointed by the people, the supreme court for life, the state courts for as long as is warranted by the state.
My three amendments-
1. The American people shall elect their president directly, without the electoral college.
2. The American people will have the right to access at least as much information about their public officials as their police have the right to access about them.
3. All judicial authority will be appointed by the people, the supreme court for life, the state courts for as long as is warranted by the state.
Here are 3:
1. Everything the government does (on all levels) shall be recorded and made public (and public domain) on the internet for global perusal.
2. Financing of the Federal Government shall return to the status of the Continental Congress: The Fed shall have no authority to tax at all, but can only ask the States to donate money for the Federal budget. The States make up their own minds about whether, and how much, to give.
3. A return to the original Constitution in that: the Electoral College shall cast votes only for President; top vote-getter is President, runner-up is Vice President. Provide for a strong office of the Vice President with full access and clearance to oversee the actions of the President. Since the opposing party Presidential candidate would be most often the runner-up, this would provide for a kind of a check, at least of publicity and party leadership, on the Executive.
Here are 3:
1. Everything the government does (on all levels) shall be recorded and made public (and public domain) on the internet for global perusal.
2. Financing of the Federal Government shall return to the status of the Continental Congress: The Fed shall have no authority to tax at all, but can only ask the States to donate money for the Federal budget. The States make up their own minds about whether, and how much, to give.
3. A return to the original Constitution in that: the Electoral College shall cast votes only for President; top vote-getter is President, runner-up is Vice President. Provide for a strong office of the Vice President with full access and clearance to oversee the actions of the President. Since the opposing party Presidential candidate would be most often the runner-up, this would provide for a kind of a check, at least of publicity and party leadership, on the Executive.
Tasmania has been run for years by the timber industry in the form of one company, Gunns, who have ruined thousands and thousands of acres of countryside and enacted mass poisonings of native wildlife. They are a perfect example of what happens when virtually unrestricted corporations control government. Too bad. I love Tasmania, and I’m glad to see that things may finally be changing there.
Tasmania has been run for years by the timber industry in the form of one company, Gunns, who have ruined thousands and thousands of acres of countryside and enacted mass poisonings of native wildlife. They are a perfect example of what happens when virtually unrestricted corporations control government. Too bad. I love Tasmania, and I’m glad to see that things may finally be changing there.
1) Term limits. In addition to mandatory term limits, establish a mandatory ‘waiting period’ (3 to 5 years?) before someone in the House can run for Senate, for example. This would require ‘professional’ politicians to get out of the campaign cycle (briefly) and return to the ‘mainstream’ economy (unless they are independently wealthy) and (I hope) give them a chance to get off the hill and back in touch with the rest of us.
2) Conflict of interest. Elected officials governing a body should not be employed by the body they govern. PRC members should not be employees of the regulated utilities and school board members should not be teachers, administrators, or otherwise employed by the district they are governing, same for City Councilors, etc. I know this seems really obvious, but the school board issue is happening here right now. Laws enacted to this effect should also have a mandatory waiting period requiring some minimum lapse between terminating employment and running for office (again, to ensure that the person running is basically a publicly minded citizen representative, not a professional politician).
3) Publicly regulated companies (the local electric utility) who hold monopolies with a pre-determined profit margin should not be publicly traded on the stock market (and thus answerable to shareholders). Why? Example: An electric utility is promoting conservation to its customers. Rather than promote on the ‘greater good’ which is not always effective, promote on ’saving money’…but then, to preserve the profits that the shareholders (not the customers over whom the utility holds this monopoly) demand, the utility repeatedly asks for rate hikes to compensate for the lost revenue from the conservation thus negating the cost benefits of conservation. Pleasing the sharholders at the expense of the customers. That’s not enough to stop me from conserving energy, but it’s enough to make cynics of many.
1) Term limits. In addition to mandatory term limits, establish a mandatory ‘waiting period’ (3 to 5 years?) before someone in the House can run for Senate, for example. This would require ‘professional’ politicians to get out of the campaign cycle (briefly) and return to the ‘mainstream’ economy (unless they are independently wealthy) and (I hope) give them a chance to get off the hill and back in touch with the rest of us.
2) Conflict of interest. Elected officials governing a body should not be employed by the body they govern. PRC members should not be employees of the regulated utilities and school board members should not be teachers, administrators, or otherwise employed by the district they are governing, same for City Councilors, etc. I know this seems really obvious, but the school board issue is happening here right now. Laws enacted to this effect should also have a mandatory waiting period requiring some minimum lapse between terminating employment and running for office (again, to ensure that the person running is basically a publicly minded citizen representative, not a professional politician).
3) Publicly regulated companies (the local electric utility) who hold monopolies with a pre-determined profit margin should not be publicly traded on the stock market (and thus answerable to shareholders). Why? Example: An electric utility is promoting conservation to its customers. Rather than promote on the ‘greater good’ which is not always effective, promote on ’saving money’…but then, to preserve the profits that the shareholders (not the customers over whom the utility holds this monopoly) demand, the utility repeatedly asks for rate hikes to compensate for the lost revenue from the conservation thus negating the cost benefits of conservation. Pleasing the sharholders at the expense of the customers. That’s not enough to stop me from conserving energy, but it’s enough to make cynics of many.
Since many good ideas that I share have already been voiced, I’ll add a few of my own.
1. Legalize drugs and regulate as controlled substances through existing channels with suppliers being required to purchase a license.
2. If the IRS is not abolished and some type of Fair Tax instituted, then eliminate all taxes on startup small businesses for the first two years while also eliminating all deductions.
3. Health insurance must be universal, portable and a mix of free market and mandated wellness programs that are linked to personal responsibility.
Since many good ideas that I share have already been voiced, I’ll add a few of my own.
1. Legalize drugs and regulate as controlled substances through existing channels with suppliers being required to purchase a license.
2. If the IRS is not abolished and some type of Fair Tax instituted, then eliminate all taxes on startup small businesses for the first two years while also eliminating all deductions.
3. Health insurance must be universal, portable and a mix of free market and mandated wellness programs that are linked to personal responsibility.
Here are my three:
1. Flat-tax. This in effect removes the loopholes, which will actually increase revenues, but requires a individual percentage per person.
2. Remove coorperate taxes. The increase in profits should move to shareholders which will be taxed under (1). The intent here is to basically replace cooperations as taxable entities (and by extension representable entities). See http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/09/07/3686/
3. Improve funding for education at all levels. Education is a key factor in keeping the US competitive in the long run. There’s that old Chinese proverb “wealth doesn’t last past the third generation,” and I think that education will help to mitigate that effect.
Here are my three:
1. Flat-tax. This in effect removes the loopholes, which will actually increase revenues, but requires a individual percentage per person.
2. Remove coorperate taxes. The increase in profits should move to shareholders which will be taxed under (1). The intent here is to basically replace cooperations as taxable entities (and by extension representable entities). See http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/09/07/3686/
3. Improve funding for education at all levels. Education is a key factor in keeping the US competitive in the long run. There’s that old Chinese proverb “wealth doesn’t last past the third generation,” and I think that education will help to mitigate that effect.
One for now….
The one thing I would like to see happen, that is an easy first start to an all-inclusive participatory democracy would be for every state to pass the National Popular Vote Bill.
http://www.nationalpopularvote.com/
One for now….
The one thing I would like to see happen, that is an easy first start to an all-inclusive participatory democracy would be for every state to pass the National Popular Vote Bill.
http://www.nationalpopularvote.com/
How about we start by upholding the Constitution? The Founding Fathers may have had flaws, but the politicians today aren’t qualified to be their hostlers.
How about we start by upholding the Constitution? The Founding Fathers may have had flaws, but the politicians today aren’t qualified to be their hostlers.
1). Do away with the income cap on payroll taxes.
2). Make all the “Signing Statements” of the past seven+ years null and void and make future such actions illegal.
3). Restore the ultimate authority of the FISA Court.
4). Restore Habeas Corpus.
5). Roll back media consolidation and related rules to pre-Clinton Administration levels.
1). Do away with the income cap on payroll taxes.
2). Make all the “Signing Statements” of the past seven+ years null and void and make future such actions illegal.
3). Restore the ultimate authority of the FISA Court.
4). Restore Habeas Corpus.
5). Roll back media consolidation and related rules to pre-Clinton Administration levels.
“can enact to restore confidence in government.”
OOPS ! ! !
Guess very few read that line. What world do y’all live in? Habeas Corpus? Tax returns made public? LOL… Electoral College Reform? Tasmania ! ? ! ?
My God ! ! !
Real world, people… Real World. Where people live; what affects them?
That was the question.
“can enact to restore confidence in government.”
OOPS ! ! !
Guess very few read that line. What world do y’all live in? Habeas Corpus? Tax returns made public? LOL… Electoral College Reform? Tasmania ! ? ! ?
My God ! ! !
Real world, people… Real World. Where people live; what affects them?
That was the question.
There are some really good ideas here.
Surprised not more people suggested legalizing drugs. Milton Friedman made some of the most wonderful arguments in favor of this idea.
There are some really good ideas here.
Surprised not more people suggested legalizing drugs. Milton Friedman made some of the most wonderful arguments in favor of this idea.
There is a lot of wonderful content here. Give me through the weekend to sort it out, since there is a lot of overlap, and then we will take a second round to refine it.
There is a lot of wonderful content here. Give me through the weekend to sort it out, since there is a lot of overlap, and then we will take a second round to refine it.
1. Outlaw gerrymandering of congressional and state legislative districts. Currently, districts are drawn to favor one party or the other. As a result, many elections are virtually decided before the first vote is cast. Incumbents grow increasingly immune to challenge within their own party, and are effectively in office for as long as they want.
All districts should be be as compact and nearly square as possible, while conforming to natural boundaries, such as rivers or major highways.
2. Eliminate bicameral legislatures in the states. Two competing legislative bodies, each with duplicate committees and subcommittees, is a system designed to prevent change and isolate legislators from accountability. Nothing gets done.
Eliminate the state senates and keep the lower houses. Make membership of the remaining house large enough to keep representation close to the people, with single-member districts of 50,000 to 100,000 people. With one legislative house, legislators will vote and their decision will stick, with none of the ugly compromises crafted in behind-the-scenes conference committees.
3. Give the president and governors line-item veto power over appropriation bills, subject to override by a 60 percent vote of the legislative branch.
4. Isolate the judicial branch from politics, as much as possible. No more election of state and local judges and prosecutors.
1. Outlaw gerrymandering of congressional and state legislative districts. Currently, districts are drawn to favor one party or the other. As a result, many elections are virtually decided before the first vote is cast. Incumbents grow increasingly immune to challenge within their own party, and are effectively in office for as long as they want.
All districts should be be as compact and nearly square as possible, while conforming to natural boundaries, such as rivers or major highways.
2. Eliminate bicameral legislatures in the states. Two competing legislative bodies, each with duplicate committees and subcommittees, is a system designed to prevent change and isolate legislators from accountability. Nothing gets done.
Eliminate the state senates and keep the lower houses. Make membership of the remaining house large enough to keep representation close to the people, with single-member districts of 50,000 to 100,000 people. With one legislative house, legislators will vote and their decision will stick, with none of the ugly compromises crafted in behind-the-scenes conference committees.
3. Give the president and governors line-item veto power over appropriation bills, subject to override by a 60 percent vote of the legislative branch.
4. Isolate the judicial branch from politics, as much as possible. No more election of state and local judges and prosecutors.
1. Outlaw gerrymandering of congressional and state legislative districts. Currently, districts are drawn to favor one party or the other. As a result, many elections are virtually decided before the first vote is cast. Incumbents grow increasingly immune to challenge within their own party, and are effectively in office for as long as they want.
All districts should be be as compact and nearly square as possible, while conforming to natural boundaries, such as rivers or major highways.
2. Eliminate bicameral legislatures in the states. Two competing legislative bodies, each with duplicate committees and subcommittees, is a system designed to prevent change and isolate legislators from accountability. Nothing gets done.
Eliminate the state senates and keep the lower houses. Make membership of the remaining house large enough to keep representation close to the people, with single-member districts of 50,000 to 100,000 people. With one legislative house, legislators will vote and their decision will stick, with none of the ugly compromises crafted in behind-the-scenes conference committees.
3. Give the president and governors line-item veto power over appropriation bills, subject to override by a 60 percent vote of the legislative branch.
4. Isolate the judicial branch from politics, as much as possible. No more election of state and local judges and prosecutors. — Bernie
1. Outlaw gerrymandering of congressional and state legislative districts. Currently, districts are drawn to favor one party or the other. As a result, many elections are virtually decided before the first vote is cast. Incumbents grow increasingly immune to challenge within their own party, and are effectively in office for as long as they want.
All districts should be be as compact and nearly square as possible, while conforming to natural boundaries, such as rivers or major highways.
2. Eliminate bicameral legislatures in the states. Two competing legislative bodies, each with duplicate committees and subcommittees, is a system designed to prevent change and isolate legislators from accountability. Nothing gets done.
Eliminate the state senates and keep the lower houses. Make membership of the remaining house large enough to keep representation close to the people, with single-member districts of 50,000 to 100,000 people. With one legislative house, legislators will vote and their decision will stick, with none of the ugly compromises crafted in behind-the-scenes conference committees.
3. Give the president and governors line-item veto power over appropriation bills, subject to override by a 60 percent vote of the legislative branch.
4. Isolate the judicial branch from politics, as much as possible. No more election of state and local judges and prosecutors. — Bernie
My goodness, Professor Taplin, you have got your hands full! I’d pin it on our friend Ken were I you…
Hey, I said in advance it would be a work load. Didn’t expect this kind of turnout though. Lots of newish names at the metaphorical dinner table though, which after all the pissing matches (mea culpa) is a good thing.
- One of every two state senators must have served in the military in some fashion.
-Only one of the two state senators can be an attorney.
-50% of a state’s representatives must have served in the military in some fashion.
-Only 50% of a state’s representatives can be attorneys.
-Get our voting process out of the dark ages. Make it easy for people to register and vote. Tax incentives for exercising your voting rights with increases over time.
-Make all budgets on all levels of government transparent and on the web for all to see.
[...] 12, 2008 · No Comments So the many comments on the Participatory Democracy Survey actually break down into three very clear [...]
I’ve tried to summarize the experiment reponses here:
http://jtaplin.wordpress.com/2008/06/12/participative-democracy-ii/