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Use the scientific method to improve democracy.
When the USA was invented, it was a great experiment in democracy. Democracy is considered the best form of government.on Earth. I think we can do better, much better. The wisest aspect of the USA Constitution is the ability to amend it. Let us amend it to continue the experiment.
I would like some suggestions for a method, a process, for improving democracy. I am not so much interested in discussing specific improvements, but a PROCESS whereby improvements could be proposed, tried and evaluated. This process might take years or centuries.
I think one simple method would be a constitutional amendment that would allow localities to try different forms of government. Then people could choose by moving to the jurisdiction of their choice, or moving away. This might cause serious problems, with the the rich moving together and other areas left with no tax base. To some extent, this is already happening anyway.
What are your ideas?
Florian Vergnaud
Your question is really interesting but I don't really understand how it could be carried out, because even if we collected a huge amount of data about different regimes and amendments locally tested, I don't think we would be able to use this information to distinguish an optimal democracy.The will of peoples with different cultures might be opposed and the measures which may look positive in a region may look negative in an other one. It seems immossible to evaluate some laws at a global scale. Moreover, the view and the role that the state should have in democracy is debatted and has to be, the answer is not absolute. Looking for a global process can't lead in my opinion to a good solution, because what characterizes democracy, is that, anything that concerns the people, the way the government rules, must always be up to discussion, and it can not happen if we consider a rigid model.
Nevertheless, we must make democracy improve. We must learn from the mistakes that have been made before. And the very thought I have is that only education may allow the people to understand how our societies work, to get them interested in the challenges we have to face and so to have precise and clear ideas about the regime they want.
Barry Palmer 50+
I am just looking for a better PROCESS that would speed up the pace of IMPROVEMENT.
With luck, we might find a process that could be applied in many different societies. A process that would be limited to the USA would still be useful.
Your point about education is important. It is the basis of all forms of democracy. We must always be searching for improvements to education. I am hoping that we can find something more than just improving education.
Tom Preusser
pat gilbert 100+
Switzerland may have better educated voters? I would tend to think so by virtue of the intelligence demonstrated regarding Swiss use of fire arms. Of which they have shown that with training it is a great tool. Voting requires the same degree of care regarding training. I think that in any system this side of Communism or a Dictatorship that has good education is preferable to a better system with out education.
Switzerland does a lot of stuff right and more than the U.S. does right. My concern is the growth of government more than the type. In general I see Germany as a paradigm in training which overcomes the heavy regulations and taxes endemic to Socialism. What the U.S. lacks in training it makes up for in economic freedom, but this is changing.
The other thing I wonder about is scalability, the U.S. is 40 times the population of the Swiss. The U.S. is all immigrants and a lot more than 8 million are non white. I would think this would be a lot different.
Tom Preusser
There is a big misconception about the Swiss being homogeneous. Over the years they have struggled with and managed 3 different major languages, 2 major religions, and various diverse other minorities. The internet makes scalability a non problem
Thanks again for your comments.
pat gilbert 100+
We have over 50 million Hispanics whom many use English as a second language. That is 6 times the entire population of your country of course this does not include the other ethnic cultures. I don't see the internet as a solution to scalability of a diverse population.
A pertinent point is that the government did not interfere with the economy or many other things for the 1st 150 years of this country. Based on the results my thinking is the less goverment the better. The more education of the citizens the better.
Tom Preusser
In the US some 30 states have "direct democracy" provisions for initiatives and referendums, so we have potentially 50 experiments to look to in improving our federal government processes. The elephant entering the room in all of this is the internet, and there is much activity around the world using the internet for democracy.
At the US federal level one must understand that the "political class" that sits atop everything likes things the way they are - ie only 28 of some 10,000 proposed constitutional amendments have ever beem ratified. For any changes to occur the case must be obvious and low risk, at least as viewed by the political elites. With this in mind here are the specifics of what I propose:
"Directed Democracy" where a US Board of Directors presides over "advisory" federal initiatives and referendums (voting) conducted over the internet. Today our federal and state governments have election (voting) boards whose function is to monitor lobbying and election activity for fairness etc. I envision expanding the function somewhat to a true "Board" function which is to look at the strategic big picture using citizen input devoid of politics. Past US presidents would automatically belong to the Board. Other Board members would be elected at large to serve one single term, with the top vote getters winning election and inclusive therefore of third parties. Board members would be given "swing" voting rights in congress.
Final comments:
The internet will loom large in the future of democracy. Modern organizations run with a Board of Directors - should not our US government also have one- (ad hoc super committees don't seem to work)
pat gilbert 100+
Jarred Figlar-Barnes
But one thing is for sure, I would much rather live in an democratic country whose government is imperfect than a country that has a dictatorship in place. The fact that those people, however imperfect they may be, don’t have any say in any aspect of their life or their government is the true definition of Tyranny.
So Pat, just be thankful that you live in a county that even allows you to voice your own ideas and opinions because there are places in this world where people our giving their lives just to get a piece of what we have here.
pat gilbert 100+
Jarred Figlar-Barnes
pat gilbert 100+
Your ignorance and the ignorance of the majority is relevant and because of this I would not be surprised if this country is unrecognizable in 5 years. This level of ignorance is truly amazing.
Jarred Figlar-Barnes
It would be wrong for me to assume that you think the other half doesn't want the best for this country. But whether you are Republican, Democrat or Independent, all of us wants what’s best, and name calling or general disregard for the others ideas wont get us there. And being pessimistic about our future is about the worst thing a person can do, because it means they have given up and have no reason to continue coming up with ideas or solutions to the problems they are being so pessimistic about.
pat gilbert 100+
The simple math is that the current debt is 16 trillion dollars the GDP for one year is 15 trillion dollars.
The current revenue through taxes is 2.5 trillion dollars per year
The current borrowing is another 1.5 trillion dollars per year
The unfunded liabilities are in excess of 100 trillion dollars.
What are the odds of the country handling this without collapsing or turning into a dystopian state with a jack booted militia???
In the last election some of the people that voted for Obama felt that social issues were more important than the above. Others that voted for Obama felt that there was a better chance of more jobs with Obama, despite 4 years of no jobs with the worst economy since FDR.
Social issues will be moot if the country collapses. Basic economics indicates that Obama is doing exactly the wrong things to create jobs.
None of this is my opinion.
Have a nice day.
Jarred Figlar-Barnes
pat gilbert 100+
george lockwood 30+
In the United States the big players vary from time to time. If we review Charles Mckay's Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds you might get a better understanding of our Bubbles and corporate propaganda. Your comments are scary Are you concerned about overreaching in corporate matters San
Mateo Co... by the Supremes or do you miss slavery So much for Roscoe Conkling and the Fourtenth Amendment Remember that Senator Conkling the author of the 14th Amendment twice refused to be nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court. He left the Senate to be a railroad lawyer. Maybe that shows where the power was at the time. He was not alone. Remember that misdirection is the key to magic. Look in a different direction for the real black hats. Propaganda doesn't work if it is obvious. Reread the Grapes of Wrath.
Gail . 50+
To see how useless a constitutional amendment would be B 4 fixing the core problem, look at our most recent (27th) amendment. Passed in 1992, it says that congress cannot give itself a raise unless an election shall have intervened. It took Congress 3 weeks to figure out a way around it. It declare that if it didn't give itself a cost of living adjustment, that they would be in violation of the amendment because they were intentionally using inflation to devalue the national debt. It took 3 months for the 9th District Court to declare that cost of living adjustments are not pay raises. Judge Sporkin said that those who brought suit were miscreants.
Congress was furious when the Archivist recorded it without congressional approval. They intended to reject the amendment, but there was so much public hoopla about it, they were stopped in their tracks. Thus they were forced to find a way around it.
The only way to reclaim OUR government is to re-ratify the 10th amendment, changing it to read "The powers not specifically delegated to the United States by the Constitution according to the intents of the ratifiers, nor prohibited by it to the States in accordance with the ratifiers intents, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
U aren't aware that until this decision, SOTUS did not have the right to do what it does today. It GAVE ITSELF the power.
pat gilbert 100+
But I don't see how just changing the 10th amendment will change much as the core of the problem is financial.
You contradict yourself by stating how useless amendments can be but then reason that by changing the 10th amendment that this will somehow change?
As indicated with the 27th amendment, we have to put a boot on the throat of the spending.
Gail . 50+
It will work if enough people understand the history of and content of our Constitution as well as American history. The key is mentioning that any interpretation is to be in accordance with the intents of the ratifiers. As we were taught provable lies in our compulsory educations, this may be a tough sell. (I wold also consider attempts and acts that undermine the Constitution as it was intended to be understood should be considered an act of treason)
It will not work today because too many Americans are so functionally uneducated that they do not understand how government was supposed to work - according to the intents of our founding fathers - who were not the Federalists, but were the anti-federalists, who risked life and limb fighting for freedom (as opposed to hiding behind the safety that their wealth afforded them).
pat gilbert 100+
But what you say regarding the finance would not be resolved. Just look at the signing agreements and the agencies created by the POTUS.
It seems odd to me that federalism is defined by what anti federalists espouse? that seems ironic.
Gail . 50+
pat gilbert 100+
In any case I agree the cure for the malignancy is chemotherapy which is the financing of, in which case all of the ideologies come to a grinding halt.
Again it is about education starting with we do not work for them they work for us. We need to be better bosses and make them do their work and hang the ones who cheat in other words a slap on the wrist would be jail time. After all this treason.
Gail . 50+
pat gilbert 100+
My take on conservatives is that they are about freedom and not centralized government AT ALL. Your take on this could not be more wrong. If anything the Democrats are about centralized government or as my lovely sister in law says "you can't convince me that more government isn't good"
a. A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.
from here:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/federalism
Gail . 50+
1. Libertarians were soundly against Mitt Romney. You were very much pro & a strong advocate of Paul Ryan, whom Libertarians were also against.
2. Libertarians stand for individual rights and the right to own one's body. You are anti-abortion
3. Libertarians stand for equal rights for GLBTs. I have not seen your position on the matter, but knowing that you are a fundamentalist christian, I could make a guess that you disagree. Furthermore, Libertarians are for equality and you have called equality "crap:
4. Libertarians stand for legalizing drugs & let U make ur own choices. You're against.
5. Libertarians don't want to be policemen of the world. Your freeting about Benhazi says you disagree. You have also called for less military at the same time you called for more military spending.
6. Libertarians want a free-market economy. You want subsidies for the wealthiest (individuals and corporations) because you errantly believe that they are job creators.
7. Libertarians are pro-environment. You are not.
The list is longer, but you were devastated at Romney's loss and furious that people voted for him based on "social issues" rather than fiscal ones. The Libertarians prime directive is to protect individual rights. That's a social issue. That's why I have voted Libertarian in every election since 1980 except this one, where I wanted my voice for the right to own my own body to be heard loud and clear, and not hidden in any 1% statistics of those on the fringes.
You are not a conservative. You are a fiscal conservative. Very big difference. Lots of democrats are fiscal conservatives and social liberals. They're called "Blue Dog Democrats". Another group who are fiscal conservatives and social liberals (keep your god out of government) are Libertarians.
pat gilbert 100+
1 I would have been in 7th heaven if Ron Paul would have won, I went with Romney (not even on my short list) because he was the lesser of 2 evils.
2 Libertarians view abortion from both points of view. I choose right to life.
3 I could not care less. I'm not a christian. I'm against equality (economic equality) at the expense of freedom and economic mobility
4 I could not care less, if were up to me I would legalize mota, it is less harmful than alcohol.
5 The U.S. does have to defend itself, I would like to see less military spending. Benghazi does not pass the smell test, my BS detector is sounding.
6 I talk about the free market in most of my posts, if my short list is 1 item it is the free market. Again you ignorance of economics shows up.
7. I'm for what ever raises the standard of living of life. The environmentalist stuff has swung way too far.
Economic issues raise individual's standard of living, rights, and life more than any other aspect of the world, otherwise we would be communicating by smoke signals.
I am a Libertarian and a Conservative, after 35 years there is an outside chance that I know as much about it as you?
Gail . 50+
You recently discovered the truth about the Fed Reserve, and have only begun to learn about it and money, but I, who have spent years studying various economic/fiscal models and their relationship to the social order, am ignorant because I know more than you? Really?
You do talk about free markets, but you also talk about tax incentives for the few that you (falsely) consider the job creators. That's not a free market by any definition. The Libertarian Platform is against your view.
The Libertarian party stands for caring for the environment.
You appear not to have even read the Libertarian Party platform. You may think that you are a Libertarian, and may even be sending them money, but if you don't know what a Libertarian is, how can you be so sure that you are one? (Rhetorical question - no answer necessary because your post has already given me the answer.)
pat gilbert 100+
I have stated that lower taxes are a liberty that are antithetical to Socialism.
Are you in favor of third trimester abortions? I don't think that human life begins at the stem cell stage on the other hand 3rd trimester abortions are murder.
Libertarian are against government interference in the environment.
I have known about the intricacies of the Fed for decades.
Party affiliation should give you a clue about my awareness of economics.
What I am saying is that you are ignorant about economics.
You did learn me some stuff about the anti-federalists and I thank you for that.
Robert Winner 50+
My opinion is to start using the Constitution we have and return to a Constitutional government. Congress should never fund anything that does not have Congressional vote of approval. If this does not occur then "WE THE PEOPLE" have been eleminated from the process.
Gail . 50+
edward long 100+
1) Repeal Obamacare; Pursue Patient-Centered Care
2) Stop the Tax Hikes
3) Reverse Obama’s Spending Increases
4) Scrap the Code; Replace It with a Flat Tax
5) Pass a Balanced Budget Amendment
6) Reject Cap and Trade
7) Rein in the EPA
8 ) Unleash America’s Vast Energy Potential
9) Eliminate the Department of Education
10) Reduce the Bloated Federal Workforce
11) Curtail Excessive Federal Regulation
12) Audit the Fed
(Some TEDsters might recognize the list which I borrowed.)
pat gilbert 100+
13) Repeal the 17th amendment
14) Repeal the 13th amendment
15)
16) Real the provision in the 14th amendment that makes anchor babies legal citizens
17) Repeal the Federal Reserve
18) Render illegal any executive orders that circumvent congress
19) Make all the alphabet soup agencies state responsibilities and curtail all the funding associated with them
20) Return to the gold standard
21) NO one can vote without passing a test to demonstrate core competancy about economic and political issues or they have to have skin in the game your choice.
22) Start a national campaign to educate the public on economics
23) The United States is not a democracy, if you don't know this the first thing you need to do is to find out that the United States is a Republic, a special kind of Republic, before you can say anything about changes, including that as per the Constitution the States have the right to Secede.
edward long 100+
Lawren Jones 10+
Sorry, but that's just not true. Otherwise please quote the Article and Section.
pat gilbert 100+
Gail . 50+
Begin here: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/ratva.asp
Lawren Jones 10+
Gail . 50+
March 7, 1819 is the day that we lost our Constitutional Republic and "These United States" (a treaty organization) became "The United States" (a nation established and ruled by SOTUS). March 7, 1819 should be a day of mourning for all Americans until we are heard.
Gail . 50+
Are you aware that the congressional record shows that the 14th amendment specifically excludes anchor babies from claiming citizenship? It was discussed in detail. The Supreme Court changed its known and intended meaning.
You could fix most of what you want fixed if you were to re-ratify the 10 amendment as I stated above, so that any interpretation will be according to the intent of the ratifiers.
As to the 15th -- I am aware of Republican's desire for voter suppression, but I am astounded that anyone would suggest repealing this important amendment that prevents the fed or the states from denying blacks the right to vote . WOW! I mean, really, WOW!!!!! I'm surprised to find you here at TED. Wouldn't you feel more comfortable in the Aryan Nations sites?
pat gilbert 100+
I did not mean the 15th amendment, I edited the post.
Gail . 50+
Before its ratification in 1868, Michigan's Senator Jacob Howard, author of the citizenship clause, made the intent crystal clear to the Senate:
"Every person born within the limits of the United States, and subject to their jurisdiction, is by virtue of natural law and national law a citizen of the United States. This will not, of course, include persons born in the United States who are foreigners, aliens, who belong to the families of ambassadors or foreign ministers accredited to the Government of the United States, but will include every other class of persons. It settles the great question of citizenship and removes all doubt as to what persons are or are not citizens of the United States. This has long been a great desideratum in the jurisprudence and legislation of this country." ."
People are quick to read "born in the US", but are just as quick to ignore "and subject to the jurisdiction thereof". The example used in the Congressional Record uses an indian woman who leaves her reservation (which was a foreign nation) and gives birth. The child is not a citizen because the mother is subject to the jurisdiction of her tribe, thus is her infant.
Even if this were still accepted today, congress does have the right to modify the terms of naturallization - even to the point of simply establishing residency in the US - which can be as little as 1 day in some states. Still, Congress, not the supreme court, should be legislating terms of citizenship because The Constitution states that ALL legislative power is rested in the Congress.
pat gilbert 100+
It is extremely ambiguous what the antecedent of thereof is.
The background is that the amendment's purpose was to grant citizenship to former slaves.
Gail . 50+
Senator Howard is the author of the amendment as well as the explanation of intent in the congressional record, as he was being questioned about it at the time. Clear intent is known. It is only with some justices that intent is rendered meaningless (Scalia, for example)
pat gilbert 100+
Why not just make the amendment clear in the first place?
Why does it get interpreted to allow the opposite of what you are saying as with the ruling of United States v. Wong Kim Ark?
BTW the United States is lucky to have Scalia.