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>The direct consequence of this otherwise excellent system is that basically anyone can collect 20,000 signatures and introduce his or her idea to the public vo

>The direct consequence of this otherwise excellent system is that basically anyone can collect 20,000 signatures and introduce his or her idea to the public voting, no matter how crazy it looks like. This is one of such cases. You realize that this is a good thing? Power is unjustly concentrated among the rich in a representative democracy. This occurs because only the rich have enough money to campaign and advertise the "representative."

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nine_k 11y ago
Switzerland's direct democracy exists continuously since 1848, longer than many European representative democracies.
- dagw 11y ago
  And universal suffrage at all levels since 1990.
landryraccoon 11y ago
The California proposition system doesn't seem to be working out too well.
- crimsonalucard 11y ago
  You need rich people to campaign the proposition.
- tsotha 11y ago
  That's because everything the people of California vote for gets stuck in the courts for decades after it passes.
akhatri_aus 11y ago
It's also a problem as anything unpopular but necessary will never become law or action.
dylanjermiah 11y ago
>This occurs because only the rich have enough money to campaign and advertise the "representative." No, it occurs because there is a system which can be abused. A system which is open to abuse can and will be abused.
- crimsonalucard 11y ago
  I agree. The problem is, only rich people have the money to abuse it.
  - dylanjermiah 11y ago
    No. The problem is 'the system' isn't working. Those who have resources will bribe their way to favorable laws, and those who don't will vote to take others money for themselves.
    - crimsonalucard 11y ago
      >and those who don't will vote to take others money for themselves. The voting population is way too big for any meaningful bribe to be offered to a voter. Lets be honest, rich people work that system, voters only vote for candidates picked by rich people. The system is flawed and abusable... but only by rich people.
      - dylanjermiah 11y ago
        >The voting population is way too big for any meaningful bribe to be offered to a voter. It's not specifically a bribe. It's policy designed to take money from those who earn more and give their money to those who earn less. In order for politicians to be elected they need to gain a majority vote, in order to get that vote they need to offer policies which claim to aid to largest number of people. This already exists, in a variety of different forms. >The system is flawed and abusable... but only by rich people. Let's assume that's the case. What should we do?
        11y ago

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]

nine_k 11y ago

Switzerland's direct democracy exists continuously since 1848, longer than many European representative democracies.

dagw 11y ago
And universal suffrage at all levels since 1990.

landryraccoon 11y ago

The California proposition system doesn't seem to be working out too well.

crimsonalucard 11y ago
You need rich people to campaign the proposition.
tsotha 11y ago
That's because everything the people of California vote for gets stuck in the courts for decades after it passes.

akhatri_aus 11y ago

It's also a problem as anything unpopular but necessary will never become law or action.

dylanjermiah 11y ago

>This occurs because only the rich have enough money to campaign and advertise the "representative." No, it occurs because there is a system which can be abused. A system which is open to abuse can and will be abused.

crimsonalucard 11y ago
I agree. The problem is, only rich people have the money to abuse it.
- dylanjermiah 11y ago
  No. The problem is 'the system' isn't working. Those who have resources will bribe their way to favorable laws, and those who don't will vote to take others money for themselves.
  - crimsonalucard 11y ago
    >and those who don't will vote to take others money for themselves. The voting population is way too big for any meaningful bribe to be offered to a voter. Lets be honest, rich people work that system, voters only vote for candidates picked by rich people. The system is flawed and abusable... but only by rich people.
    - dylanjermiah 11y ago
      >The voting population is way too big for any meaningful bribe to be offered to a voter. It's not specifically a bribe. It's policy designed to take money from those who earn more and give their money to those who earn less. In order for politicians to be elected they need to gain a majority vote, in order to get that vote they need to offer policies which claim to aid to largest number of people. This already exists, in a variety of different forms. >The system is flawed and abusable... but only by rich people. Let's assume that's the case. What should we do?
      - 11y ago