Great post, on a subject that interests me a lot.
I have decided to stop voting in national elections and referenda because I see the system of government as so corrupt that I do not want to give my consent to it. However partly due to the reasons you state, I just can't take that final step towards embracing anarchy - I suppose I'm flirting with it just now!
Having said that, I have strong reservations towards changing the political system in the way you suggest, because I think those systems, particularly direct democracy and epistocracy, would be so open to abuse and corruption. In a system of direct democracy, just think of the propaganda from big business and moneyed interests to sway people's votes! And in an epistocracy, whoever sets the selection exam questions would wield a lot of power.
I think one of the reasons for our existing sham of a democracy being in the state it is lies in the people themselves. The voters. We've become too complacent. We don't want to take responsibility - or we don't have time to, because we're all rushed off our feet. Most people read the news or Facebook to find out what's going on - they don't bother checking the facts. Few people even bother to write to their MP (in the UK) - they prefer to moan about what's going on to their friends instead. I've written to my MP many times, but he doesn't even bother to reply - his office just sends out a standard letter saying he's too busy. Yet he still gets voted back in, because of the political party he represents. There are alternative parties, but most people aren't the slightest bit interested in finding out anything about those alternatives - they're too apathetic and think there's no point.
There's massive corruption going on in the UK and no doubt, in other countries too. Some of it is recorded in the various Parliamentary Investigative Committees. But it doesn't make the front pages of the mainstream newspapers, so no one really bothers about it.
If we want our democracy to work, we have to make it work! I have many other thoughts on this subject, which I'll write about in future posts.
Sort: Trending