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0 pointsddingus5y ago0 comments

Frankly, an increase in the populist mob scope of influence would not be a bad thing.

If I had my way, I would take top 5 issues and have a national vote on them every Presidential election.

As it is right now, ordinary people have little to no effective representation. More is needed.

Aaron Schwartz was headed down that road. Very interesting perspective on how technology can be used in these ways.

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jiofih5y ago· 3 in thread

This system exists all around the world - Brazil, Switzerland, Finland and other parts of europe, Japan... it doesn’t make a huge difference when the government itself defines which five issues will be voted on, and I don’t think it could be any different.

Personally, I think the focus should be on education. How can you have vast masses of the world in 2021 electing dumb, retrograde populist leaders? learning history for real, stimulating independent though and intelectual freedom - but that’s way “too leftist” for anyone to take on right now.

And on top of that, accountability for politicians. It should not be a life career, and gross mistakes should mean stepping out so new heads can come in.

giantg25y ago

"learning history for real, stimulating independent though and intelectual freedom - but that’s way “too leftist” for anyone to take on right now."

I don't think it's "too leftist". I think it's that both sides want their own views "taught" in school. The way some issues are taught or graded border on indoctrination. I would love to see independent/critical thinking taught in schools. This next part might be controversial, I also think that every citizen should have to pass the citizenship test (provisional citizenship as a child of a citizen up until 18, or if disabled, etc). How can we have a effective government if the people don't understand tha basics of it or how to hold it accountable when it fails?

ddingusOP5y ago

You did not discuss money in politics, which present significant challenges.

The US sees many struggles, and does so in a way that impacts most of the population. These things go unaddressed despite majority support for solutions.

Populist ideas need not be dumb, and the term itself has roots in politics that would be valued and beneficial, in terms of reducing unnecessary struggle.

giantg25y ago

"Populist ideas need not be dumb, and the term itself has roots in politics that would be valued and beneficial, in terms of reducing unnecessary struggle."

What unnecessary struggle?

I can see how popular ideas are good from the standpoint of the majority of the population liking them. Some of that is being eroded now. For example, wanting to eliminate the 60 votes in the senate related to the filibuster as they already did with some conformation hearings (how can they use a 51 vote to abolish a 60 vote rule anyways, that seems to undermine the point). So now, we are reducing the amount of people necessary to like the law and reducing the likelihood of compromises to make laws less partisan and more acceptable to all. The downside to populist laws is that the people may not be educated in even the basics of how the system works (or is supposed to). Maybe it was a populist idea that things should be segregated by race. That doesn't make it right, and it infringes on the minority faction.

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4 comments · 1 top-level

jiofih5y ago· 3 in thread

And on top of that, accountability for politicians. It should not be a life career, and gross mistakes should mean stepping out so new heads can come in.

giantg25y ago

"learning history for real, stimulating independent though and intelectual freedom - but that’s way “too leftist” for anyone to take on right now."

ddingusOP5y ago

You did not discuss money in politics, which present significant challenges.

The US sees many struggles, and does so in a way that impacts most of the population. These things go unaddressed despite majority support for solutions.

Populist ideas need not be dumb, and the term itself has roots in politics that would be valued and beneficial, in terms of reducing unnecessary struggle.

giantg25y ago

"Populist ideas need not be dumb, and the term itself has roots in politics that would be valued and beneficial, in terms of reducing unnecessary struggle."

What unnecessary struggle?

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