[EM] Conceiving a Democratic Electoral Process

[Fred Gohlke]

Good Morning, Juho

re: "I think the method in princple encourages people to
      participate, e.g. via membership in a party."

On the contrary, Juho.  Joining a party is profoundly passive.  Instead 
of expressing their own view, party members cede their right to guide 
their community to an organization that is unable to serve the public 
interest because it is committed to pursue narrow special interests. 
Witness the national debt crisis in Greece - and in the United States.


re: "Also voting can be seen as a very powerful yet easy way to
      influence on the direction that the society will take."

Voting for choices defined by political parties creates an illusion of 
power but is a sign of great weakness.  It is like your mother giving 
you a choice of Wheaties and Corn Flakes.

The easiness you cite should give you a clue.  Achieving democracy is 
not easy.  It must be accomplished in the face of enormous power, 
whether the upper classes that dominated your country for so long or the 
economic interests that dominate mine, now.


re: "Or there is an assumption that voters will elect only or
      mainly people with "the knowledge, ability and desire to
      serve the common interest", which may also be frequently
      wrong."

This is unclear; it seems to contain a double negative.  It does, 
however, lead me to ask the precise means by which voters can determine 
whether or not those they vote for have "the knowledge, ability and 
desire to serve the common interest".  Partisan electoral systems 
provide no mechanism for a careful examination of the candidates by 
their peers.  Are the voters to rely on the self-serving assertions of 
the candidates and their party?

I am aware of your commitment to partisan politics, but I wonder if you 
can help us move beyond that.  Can you help us address the critical 
question:  "How can we create an electoral process that allows and 
encourages the entire electorate to exercise their ability to guide the 
community's affairs to the full extent of each individual's desire and 
ability?"

Fred