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>> The problem is the direct proposition system. It makes good governance impossible. Most states require the legislature to approve all direct propositions, bu

>> The problem is the direct proposition system. It makes good governance impossible. Most states require the legislature to approve all direct propositions, but California does not. So the problem is...democracy? You want things that other people don't want. Your claim is that they are too unintelligent to understand the long term ramifications of their choices. I would definitely vote for something like Proposition 13 in my state, if I had the chance. You disagree. Why is one person one vote a bad rule, and how many votes should you get as opposed to mine?

jedberg 6y ago
> So the problem is...democracy? Yes, exactly. No system of direct democracy has worked in the history of the world. Even here on HN, it is moderated, and some people have more voice than others. > Your claim is that they are too unintelligent to understand the long term ramifications of their choices. It's not that they aren't intelligent enough, it's that they don't have the background to make an informed decision. A politician specializes in understanding the ramifications of law (at least in theory). You as a voter do not have time to learn everything necessary to understand what you are voting for. It's a full time job and then some. Just like you are perfectly capable of fixing your own car, but you don't have the time to spend learning how to do it properly. Politicians focus on policy and their long term affects, and you do whatever it is that you do. > Why is one person one vote a bad rule, and how many votes should you get as opposed to mine? One person one vote is fine for selecting representation, but we select representation specifically because we expect them to be experts in policy.
- rufus_foreman 6y ago
  > You as a voter do not have time to learn everything necessary to understand what you are voting for. It's a full time job and then some Then I can outsource that learning to a political party, the same as if I didn't have an option to vote on a direct proposition. I can trust the political party, and let them tell me how to vote on the proposition. I have more choices with the direct proposition. Outsource it to a political party, or decide myself. Without the direct proposition, I can only outsource it to a political party. I would rather have the choice. You would rather me not have that choice.

jedberg 6y ago

> So the problem is...democracy? Yes, exactly. No system of direct democracy has worked in the history of the world. Even here on HN, it is moderated, and some people have more voice than others. > Your claim is that they are too unintelligent to understand the long term ramifications of their choices. It's not that they aren't intelligent enough, it's that they don't have the background to make an informed decision. A politician specializes in understanding the ramifications of law (at least in theory). You as a voter do not have time to learn everything necessary to understand what you are voting for. It's a full time job and then some. Just like you are perfectly capable of fixing your own car, but you don't have the time to spend learning how to do it properly. Politicians focus on policy and their long term affects, and you do whatever it is that you do. > Why is one person one vote a bad rule, and how many votes should you get as opposed to mine? One person one vote is fine for selecting representation, but we select representation specifically because we expect them to be experts in policy.

rufus_foreman 6y ago
> You as a voter do not have time to learn everything necessary to understand what you are voting for. It's a full time job and then some Then I can outsource that learning to a political party, the same as if I didn't have an option to vote on a direct proposition. I can trust the political party, and let them tell me how to vote on the proposition. I have more choices with the direct proposition. Outsource it to a political party, or decide myself. Without the direct proposition, I can only outsource it to a political party. I would rather have the choice. You would rather me not have that choice.