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Another problem with democracy: lets say there are 9 people and there are some dishes that need washing, one could propose a vote to make Bob always do the dish

by seles 16y ago

Another problem with democracy: lets say there are 9 people and there are some dishes that need washing, one could propose a vote to make Bob always do the dishes every time for ever. If everyone votes in their best interest then Bob is screwed. Obviously this is not fair and people would hopefully have the sense not to do this, but you can't count on people to be "fair" or even know what fair is. This dilemma already exists, one examples is welfare. Now you may agree or disagree that welfare is good or bad, but surely there is some degree of welfare that is too much, and it will reach this limit eventually if it already hasn't. I liked the quote: "...democracy is a terrible form of government, but eight times better than any other." -Winston Churchill I do not agree that anarchy is the solution, although democracy has it's flaws, it does indeed seem eight times better than anything else... Or at least anything that could practically be done. I think the ideal solution would be to create a very basic set of laws that guarantees individual rights. And make any form of new laws impossible. But how practical is this idea? The only way I can see it happening is if some rich dude buys an island and puts investment in it to get its economic foundation going. Yes I know crazy idea.

zimbu668 16y ago
People have advocated man made islands that would reside outside the territory of any nation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasteading http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasteading) Sealand is an interesting example, some sort of British military base on a platform in the North Sea was claimed and declared an independent country, with little recognition by any established countries (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Sealand http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Sealand)
tlots 16y ago
It is interesting to draw a parallel between the philosophical idea of utilitarianism and democracy. Particularly in the sense that what is best for the 'greater good' is not always ethical. Example: Take down a plane full of people to save a building full of people?
nooneelse 16y ago
Welfare systems don't come with peoples names in the legislation, like "Bob always does the dishes". They are based on other properties which any citizen might sometime have. So they are more like, "the person who has least recently done the dishes (provided they are not now sick or injured) does the dishes." Welfare is not an example of the kind of democratic fairness dilemma that you raise with the Bob-always-does-the-dishes solution.

by seles 16y ago

zimbu668 16y ago

People have advocated man made islands that would reside outside the territory of any nation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasteading http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasteading) Sealand is an interesting example, some sort of British military base on a platform in the North Sea was claimed and declared an independent country, with little recognition by any established countries (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Sealand http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Sealand)

tlots 16y ago

It is interesting to draw a parallel between the philosophical idea of utilitarianism and democracy. Particularly in the sense that what is best for the 'greater good' is not always ethical. Example: Take down a plane full of people to save a building full of people?

nooneelse 16y ago

Welfare systems don't come with peoples names in the legislation, like "Bob always does the dishes". They are based on other properties which any citizen might sometime have. So they are more like, "the person who has least recently done the dishes (provided they are not now sick or injured) does the dishes." Welfare is not an example of the kind of democratic fairness dilemma that you raise with the Bob-always-does-the-dishes solution.