Would Direct Democracy Work?

Do you beleive that a system of direct democracy could work in a modern day society?

Direct democracy is a system of democracy that allows the citizens of a country to make legislative decisions on their own, without the use of elected representatives.

I believe, through the use of the internet and in a society with high levels political discourse, direct democracy could work.

Not in any sizable country.

Not at all.

not on a national level , direct democracy would really only applicable on a small scale.

Absolutely not.

Actually, direct democracy has pretty much **** California over. Here's a good article on it:http://www.economist.com/node/18563638

Whenever anybody says that "politicians should do what the people want", I tend to tune out because that is pretty much the same flawed mindset behind direct democracy.

The public is not educated enough on the issues to be shaping public policy and direct democracy's logical, and practical, conclusion is mob rule.

nope, best we can hope for is a benign dictatorship.Allicrombie

nope, best we can hope for is a benign dictatorship.Allicrombie

Possibly but its a little hard to imagine.

In terms of everyone getting a vote, the Internet makes it highly possible for people to be able to conveniently vote. It is not practical or a good idea though. Most people just aren't educated enough to be making decisions about many of the tough issues and not everybody has the time to read through every proposed law to make a decision anyway.

Yes except that I don't want China voting for our president. No secure computer system has ever been made.

/thread

In terms of everyone getting a vote, the Internet makes it highly possible for people to be able to conveniently vote. It is not practical or a good idea though. Most people just aren't educated enough to be making decisions about many of the tough issues and not everybody has the time to read through every proposed law to make a decision anyway.

nintendofreak_2

At least it's going to force people to get educated after they burn their country to the ground.

Yes except that I don't want China voting for our president. No secure computer system has ever been made.

/thread

realguitarhero5

No truly secure ballot system has ever been made.

It wouldn't matter, when judges can just overturn "the will of the people."

See: California Prop 8

It wouldn't matter, when judges can just overturn "the will of the people."

See: California Prop 8

Planet_Pluto

And that's a good thing.

California is a mess right now partly because of initiatives, and there's no reason that the people should have any say on other people's rights.

With 50 people? Sure.

With 300 million? No.

[QUOTE="Planet_Pluto"]

It wouldn't matter, when judges can just overturn "the will of the people."

See: California Prop 8

GreySeal9

And that's a good thing.

California is a mess right now partly because of initiatives, and there's no reason that the people should have any say on other people's rights.

[QUOTE="Allicrombie"]nope, best we can hope for is a benign dictatorship.Willy105

Very good. And then what will fill the power vacuum when the dictatorship inevitably ends?

[QUOTE="Willy105"][QUOTE="Allicrombie"]nope, best we can hope for is a benign dictatorship.jetpower3

Very good. And then what will fill the power vacuum when the dictatorship inevitably ends?