• MutilationWave@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    How do you solve the problem that half the country can’t even be bothered to participate once every four years?

    Don’t get me wrong, I’m with you 100%, but how would we get people to engage with such a system?

    • lonerangers1@lemmy.world
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      7 minutes ago

      Imagine you had a lemmy instance that every post was a proposal for regulation in your community/region. Anyone can make a post, some will gain traction and support, some will be worthless and fall off quickly. If the proposal gains enough support it then goes to a vote post where people get to make an official vote. Could be to charge $40 for a speeding ticket instead of $50, could be a trade agreement with another region.

      I think this method would give people equity in the system. Maybe it could also be scored on a curve depending on how much it effects you as an individual. Maybe having advanced education on a topic means your say has more weight to it than someone without.

      I was thinking of ways to move towards this and so far my best idea is to build it and run it in parrelel with what we have now. Get it functioning and trusted and simply try to roll over what we have now. I figure something tragic would need to happen to create a power void for full implementation. Like yellowstone erupting or something. I was also thinking that we need to teach the kids. We need to give them tools to build on so they can take this kind of idea to fruition.

      I am just a regular idiot, so feel free to add anything constructive.

    • comfy@lemmy.ml
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      3 days ago

      How do you solve the problem that half the country can’t even be bothered to participate once every four years?

      I assume you’re talking about the US electoral system?? That’s very different.

      but how would we get people to engage with such a system?

      By empowering them.

      Consider how the current electoral system disempowers people:

      1. Some people literally cannot vote or risk jeopardizing their job taking the day off, others face voter suppression tactics

      2. The FPTP system (esp. spoiler effect) and the present political circumstances mean that there are really only two viable options for political parties for most people, so many feel that neither option represents them, let alone their individual positions on policy

      3. Politics is widely considered to be corrupt and break electoral promises regularly. There is little faith in either party to represent voters

      But, in a system where you are able to represent yourself at will, engagement is actually rewarding and meaningful. It won’t magically make everyone care, but direct democracy alongside voter rights reform would likely make more people think it’s worth polling.

      • MutilationWave@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        I hope you’re right. I would love to see it. I actually support mandatory voting like in Australia. With mostly current laws everyone could get a mail in ballot. If you don’t want to participate just check that box at the top, sign it, and send it in.

        Your system sounds much better but would require a lot more legislation.

        • comfy@lemmy.ml
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          2 days ago

          Well, it would require more than just legislation change. Truth be told, in the US, a working democracy requires some form of revolution since the people holding all the power benefit from the broken system. But on the other hand, organizations and communities (including territories of hundreds of thousands) practicing direct democracy on a smaller scale have seen success with these strategies.