30 ms·

Both-sidesism? This goes beyond political party. Creating parties was where we fucked up. First-past-the-post almost ensured that our elections would end up bec

Both-sidesism? This goes beyond political party. Creating parties was where we fucked up. First-past-the-post almost ensured that our elections would end up becoming team sports, at that point. I'd be much more trusting of democracy or even representative democracy if the demos had a real say -- We should be voting on issues more than we do people. People can betray trust or twist a vote's meaning. Most of politics, as practiced, is sleight of hand and misleading people. If we vote on issues and then also vote on people whose leadership we trust to execute said issue conclusion, we'd get much closer to something representing the will of the people while also guarding against populist BS. That is the supposed goal of representative democracies, and yet in practice it's bread, circuses, and zero accountability from the top. Losing an election is not a replacement for consequences or taking responsibility for defying the will of your constituents. But, you can't sell that as a sport to people and foment tribal thoughts as easily, so that's no good. /s

sph 3y ago
> you can't sell that as a sport to people and foment tribal thoughts as easily Panem et circenses. My niche theory on why we've become so politicised, is because it's become entertainment. Trash reality TV. Today the circenses are not the gladiators fighting for their lives, but the Orange Man vs Old Geezer sitcom on dinner time TV and in the front page of your newspapers. One will find there is little difference between the trashy TV fan and the person avidly following political debates. Meanwhile those reality stars keep stealing and making their friends richer, disregarding any laws because they're the ones making them.
mikem170 3y ago
> I'd be much more trusting of democracy or even representative democracy if the demos had a real say The Swiss do a much better job of this! There the people can petition for a referendum to add or delete any law or amend the constitution. They can do this at the municipal, canton (state) or federal level. The result is that politicians know that they need to negotiate with motivated minorities. The people have a veto over the politicians.

sph 3y ago

> you can't sell that as a sport to people and foment tribal thoughts as easily Panem et circenses. My niche theory on why we've become so politicised, is because it's become entertainment. Trash reality TV. Today the circenses are not the gladiators fighting for their lives, but the Orange Man vs Old Geezer sitcom on dinner time TV and in the front page of your newspapers. One will find there is little difference between the trashy TV fan and the person avidly following political debates. Meanwhile those reality stars keep stealing and making their friends richer, disregarding any laws because they're the ones making them.

mikem170 3y ago

> I'd be much more trusting of democracy or even representative democracy if the demos had a real say The Swiss do a much better job of this! There the people can petition for a referendum to add or delete any law or amend the constitution. They can do this at the municipal, canton (state) or federal level. The result is that politicians know that they need to negotiate with motivated minorities. The people have a veto over the politicians.