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That would probably be an improvement over how things go now. The issue is even if public sentiment across a nation is a strong majority like 60%, 40% is still

That would probably be an improvement over how things go now. The issue is even if public sentiment across a nation is a strong majority like 60%, 40% is still a huge number of people, and different people have somewhat different values depending on where they are. I feel like local communities this would work well, since a majority overriding a minority might not be as egregious as say a majority of rural folk having their will done over city folk and vice versa. What I wish we could do is let’s say the federal government says in accordance with majority sentiment, masks are required for children in school. The state of Texas though has the ability to override it or leave it in place, but then the city of Austin could then override what Texas overruled and so on. I don’t know something where the will of more people is being followed.

mistermann 5y ago
> That would probably be an improvement over how things go now. The issue is even if public sentiment across a nation is a strong majority like 60%, 40% is still a huge number of people, and different people have somewhat different values depending on where they are. Oh I agree...but I'm not even making a claim that this will affect change, I am simply suggesting that broad increased awareness of ~true public sentiment (as opposed to largely baseless *claim of public sentiment that we are fed on TV) would be interesting, and maybe even useful. I believe it would decrease the level of delusion in society. > What I wish we could do is let’s say the federal government says in accordance with majority sentiment, masks are required for children in school. The state of Texas though has the ability to override it or leave it in place, but then the city of Austin could then override what Texas overruled and so on. I don’t know something where the will of more people is being followed. I'm not opposed to this in principle, but I am leery of claims of "in accordance with majority sentiment" under the current mode of measurement, and information distribution that precedes polling. I believe the whole system is rotten.
- mostertoaster 5y ago
  Yeah that’s a great point.
- vdqtp3 5y ago
  That's really the whole reason federalism was implemented as it was in the United States. They didn't believe laws could be created that would logically apply to the entire nation, so the Federal government was very very restricted and almost all normal "government" was delegated to the states. This almost immediately began being eroded and now feels almost pointless.

mistermann 5y ago

> That would probably be an improvement over how things go now. The issue is even if public sentiment across a nation is a strong majority like 60%, 40% is still a huge number of people, and different people have somewhat different values depending on where they are. Oh I agree...but I'm not even making a claim that this will affect change, I am simply suggesting that broad increased awareness of ~true public sentiment (as opposed to largely baseless *claim of public sentiment that we are fed on TV) would be interesting, and maybe even useful. I believe it would decrease the level of delusion in society. > What I wish we could do is let’s say the federal government says in accordance with majority sentiment, masks are required for children in school. The state of Texas though has the ability to override it or leave it in place, but then the city of Austin could then override what Texas overruled and so on. I don’t know something where the will of more people is being followed. I'm not opposed to this in principle, but I am leery of claims of "in accordance with majority sentiment" under the current mode of measurement, and information distribution that precedes polling. I believe the whole system is rotten.

mostertoaster 5y ago
Yeah that’s a great point.
vdqtp3 5y ago
That's really the whole reason federalism was implemented as it was in the United States. They didn't believe laws could be created that would logically apply to the entire nation, so the Federal government was very very restricted and almost all normal "government" was delegated to the states. This almost immediately began being eroded and now feels almost pointless.