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Let's Toss for It - A Surprising Curb on Political Greed

28 points by panic 17y ago

blahedo 17y ago
A fascinating idea, but I shudder to think what kind of randomness generator they'd use---too many people "trust the computer" and don't know anything about randomness (and have never even heard the term "pseudorandom"). Although, the mental image of robed justices and besuited representatives standing around a well-recorded table and solemnly rolling a d20 does have a certain appeal. :)
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stavrianos 17y ago
I haven't been blown away by democracy's ability to build competent governments, and the self-selection biases are terrible. Hard to see how chance could be much worse.
- hga 17y ago
  "Democracy" (really small r republican government) is not designed so much to "build competent governments" but to solve nastier issues like the succession problem, the willingness of a current official to step down and allow his successor to replace him. You don't have to read very much history to see why solving this is critical. I just don't see a coin toss conferring anywhere near the level of legitimacy needed for successions.
Tangurena 17y ago
For more technical details on the machinery that the ancient greeks used to select folks: http://www.alamut.com/subj/artiface/deadMedia/agoraMuseum.html http://www.alamut.com/subj/artiface/deadMedia/agoraMuseum.ht... From the OP article: > The pressures of party politics have ensured that, although the formal mechanism remains the same, today's electors are bound by their party mandate to vote for the party's candidates; hence, the outcome of the election turns entirely on the party composition of the Electoral College. In many states, it is against the law for an electoral college elector to vote for anyone other than the party that appointed them. Disclaimer: I actually ran for elected office in 2008. While I came in dead last, I learned a lot and had a blast. In your local community, you will find that there are part time positions that you (hah! even you!) can run for. If there is an office you care about, then I recommend you learn what it takes and then run for office.

28 points by panic 17y ago

A fascinating idea, but I shudder to think what kind of randomness generator they'd use---too many people "trust the computer" and don't know anything about randomness (and have never even heard the term "pseudorandom"). Although, the mental image of robed justices and besuited representatives standing around a well-recorded table and solemnly rolling a d20 does have a certain appeal. :)

deleted 17y ago

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stavrianos 17y ago

I haven't been blown away by democracy's ability to build competent governments, and the self-selection biases are terrible. Hard to see how chance could be much worse.

hga 17y ago
"Democracy" (really small r republican government) is not designed so much to "build competent governments" but to solve nastier issues like the succession problem, the willingness of a current official to step down and allow his successor to replace him. You don't have to read very much history to see why solving this is critical. I just don't see a coin toss conferring anywhere near the level of legitimacy needed for successions.

Tangurena 17y ago

For more technical details on the machinery that the ancient greeks used to select folks: http://www.alamut.com/subj/artiface/deadMedia/agoraMuseum.html http://www.alamut.com/subj/artiface/deadMedia/agoraMuseum.ht... From the OP article: > The pressures of party politics have ensured that, although the formal mechanism remains the same, today's electors are bound by their party mandate to vote for the party's candidates; hence, the outcome of the election turns entirely on the party composition of the Electoral College. In many states, it is against the law for an electoral college elector to vote for anyone other than the party that appointed them. Disclaimer: I actually ran for elected office in 2008. While I came in dead last, I learned a lot and had a blast. In your local community, you will find that there are part time positions that you (hah! even you!) can run for. If there is an office you care about, then I recommend you learn what it takes and then run for office.