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> One big problem is that the elected after being elected, choose to not follow or dilute those promises. There is no accountability. So time and again, democra

by js8 6y ago

> One big problem is that the elected after being elected, choose to not follow or dilute those promises. There is no accountability. So time and again, democracy fails as they just change their minds after being elected. One solution to this is more direct democracy. When people can propose initiatives and vote on them in referendums, it is harder for politicians to ignore that agenda. This works pretty well in Switzerland.

ativzzz 6y ago
> This works pretty well in Switzerland. Democracy that works in a country of 8.6 million does not scale up to work for a country of 330 million.
- kgin 6y ago
  Considering how often this is the explanation for why we can’t have nice things, I’m beginning to think our country is too big.
- js8 6y ago
  Yeah, I get it. It's lot more idiots. Also lot more people who don't know that vote counting can actually be done in logarithmic time.
LiquidSky 6y ago
>This works pretty well in Switzerland. The place where women couldn't vote in federal elections until 1971, and in local elections as late as 1990?
- js8 6y ago
  The source which told you that should also have explained that you can actually have women voting in direct democracy as any other citizens, there is nothing preventing that. You don't need to do it in person on a square, either. (It's a known fact, yes, in general, people do vote more socially conservatively in referendums, often backing up status quo. But that doesn't prevent progressive politicians to come up with better proposals.) In any case, if we use your logic, US would be perfect country for this, being one of the last countries on Earth that doesn't have universal health care system. Interestingly, many U.S. states do have some direct democracy provisions, courtesy of the progressive movement at the beginning of the 20th century. But what I heard it was sabotaged at federal level by the administration at the time, because U.S. wanted to get a bit involved in WW1 and it could potentially prevent that.
- nec4b 6y ago
  Do you think Switzerland is a bad place or what is the point of your rhetorical question?

by js8 6y ago

ativzzz 6y ago

> This works pretty well in Switzerland. Democracy that works in a country of 8.6 million does not scale up to work for a country of 330 million.

kgin 6y ago
Considering how often this is the explanation for why we can’t have nice things, I’m beginning to think our country is too big.
js8 6y ago
Yeah, I get it. It's lot more idiots. Also lot more people who don't know that vote counting can actually be done in logarithmic time.

LiquidSky 6y ago

>This works pretty well in Switzerland. The place where women couldn't vote in federal elections until 1971, and in local elections as late as 1990?

js8 6y ago
The source which told you that should also have explained that you can actually have women voting in direct democracy as any other citizens, there is nothing preventing that. You don't need to do it in person on a square, either. (It's a known fact, yes, in general, people do vote more socially conservatively in referendums, often backing up status quo. But that doesn't prevent progressive politicians to come up with better proposals.) In any case, if we use your logic, US would be perfect country for this, being one of the last countries on Earth that doesn't have universal health care system. Interestingly, many U.S. states do have some direct democracy provisions, courtesy of the progressive movement at the beginning of the 20th century. But what I heard it was sabotaged at federal level by the administration at the time, because U.S. wanted to get a bit involved in WW1 and it could potentially prevent that.
nec4b 6y ago
Do you think Switzerland is a bad place or what is the point of your rhetorical question?