[EM] A design flaw in the electoral system

[Jonathan Lundell]

On Nov 3, 2011, at 9:17 AM, Fred Gohlke wrote:

> re: "Why the lack of public participation?"
> 
> Our elections lack public participation because the election methods extant do not allow, much less encourage, public participation in the selection of candidates for public office or public deliberation on public issues. Instead, elections are party-based adversarial campaigns conducted by politicians, a process that is inherently corruptive.
> 
> To find the cause of the problem, we must go back at least as far as Plato, who, when he said, "As to the people they have no understanding, and only repeat what their rulers are pleased to tell them.", failed to recognize that 'the people' included many wise and gifted individuals - like himself.

Not entirely. In his Republic, the rulers were the Guardians, wise folks like himself, who live in poverty and rule benevolently. Plato for Senate!

> 
> We will not have public participation in our electoral process until our electoral process is built on the knowledge that there are many individuals among the people - among us - whose counsel will benefit the community.