Direct Democracy, 3

So, our so-called ‘representatives’ do not write nor read legislation - staff and lobbyists do that; they are more loyal to their parties and ideologies than to the majority of the people they supposedly represent; they do what their parties or a small faction in their parties, not their consciousness’, tell them to do, cashing in their integrity, hearts and souls to keep their jobs (again please note the glaring flip flops of McCain and Romney, but not Ron Paul).

We can tinker around the edges of this system of so-called ‘representative government’ encouraging third parties, redistricting, campaign finance reform, etc – which we should do. But really, it’s broken and can never be truelyfixed, especially by the people who are in it and benefiting from it [fixing the system from within is a foolish, non-viable cliché]. We need something else some other system, a system of direct democracy in which the people represent themselves without intermediaries. This is the same issue Martin Luther addressed when he nailed his 95 to the church door.

Here’s my paraphrasing of what Luther was saying: priests, rabbis and gurus (representatives) and the churches and other religious institutions (political parties) have a place but that place is not between God and individual human beings. We too, need nothing between ourselves and our government. I am not sure, nor have I thought seriously about, how we will replace the current system. However, I do know, as I hope you do too, that it is broken almost beyond repair and that before it implodes completely, tearing down our nation and society, we need to be thinking about alternatives to it.

With computers and the internet we now have the technology to support an alternative. The subject matter expertise in Congressional staffers and corporate lobbyists is necessary and can never be duplicated by individual voters. New scientific research on crowd sourcing reported in a book of that name and a book called, The Starfish and the Spider, show that rather than the stereotype of crowd as a dangerous mob, the crowd has access to greater intelligence about more sustainable solutions and opportunities. Somehow, we need to figure out how to use these tools to directly inform and involve voters, once the so-called ‘representatives’ are gone – to transition to a form of direct democracy.

The intent of this series of posts is to invite readers to awake to the need for a change in our current political system, join with each other, and together, create a more effective and efficient political system more in line with our ideals and aspirations, and then develop the means to transition from what we have, to the better alternative. This is something to start thinking about now, before we’re torn apart by the flaws of the current system. It won’t be easy, but it is necessary. This is a time of great opportunity! We need to seize it! The parallels between this time, Washington’s and Martin Luther’s are there and can be seen if you look for them.

We have more in common than what separates us. We are all Americans! Let’s get in touch with that – our shared, ideals, hopes and aspirations. Everyone has a right to their own opinions, but not their own facts. Can’t we agree on the facts and work from there to build a system and a world that works for everyone and everything?