12 ms·

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sortition https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sortition

• dredmorbius 7y ago
  True sortition -- a random selection, preferably from a prequalified candidate pool -- can actually be a fairly useful tool. A vote-based system in the absence of an effective media to investigate and inform the electorate is not actually random, but is subject to sway and influence from any modestly motivated party, with no effective check from an at least putatively disinterested or nonbiased journalistic enterprise. You're not leaving selection up to chance, you're leaving it up the the most effective, least principled, least visible election manipulator.
  • Lendal 7y ago
    Sortition would actually be an improvement even if there was no manipulator. Right now local government seems to be a selection by most-recognizable-name. In Florida a Joe Smith will always get the nod over a Prayut Chan-o-cha if there's no local press covering the election or publishing any candidate bios.
    • dredmorbius 7y ago
      See also: the canditates' Chinese-name problem: https://www.latimes.com/local/la-xpm-2011-may-17-la-me-chinese-names-20110517-story.html https://www.latimes.com/local/la-xpm-2011-may-17-la-me-chine...