The representative democracy system is easily corrupted. The options available usually are self-interested players of the system. With some good intentions and a conservative strategy that offers as slow a change as possible, they give enough for public acceptance, while keeping as much as possible for themselves. I say this in a vague manner because all cases are different, but I know we can all agree our politcal system is corrupted by selfish players. Power and money accumulate into the hands of the few and are used to manipulate the politcal landscape. How can this be averted? How much of the current system is useful, what really needs to change?
Keep the parliament and senate. Elect representatives, but alter their responsibilities. No longer should MP's vote on policy themselves. Instead they will shepherd a new system, where they curate and propose new policy's for the entire nation to vote on, either monthly or annually, using a blockchain to ensure there is a public transparent ledger of votes. There will be a requirement to include policy proposals submitted by citizens if they gain a certain amount of support from other citizens. MP's can also submit policy proposals themselves. MP's will be encouraged to take public counsel, creating independant advisory boards made up of ordinary citizens. There will have to be a multiple stage system for policy approval to ensure enough public attention and debate before legislation is made law. Something like 3 rounds of voting before making a policy law, to ensure matters can't get voted in unnoticed with low support. MP's salaries will be lowered and they will be banned from accepting donations.
The prime minister will mainly be a figure head for foreign relations. Even the annual budgets will be put to public votes, so the finance minister will now mostly be an economic advisor for the people rather than the final judge. It should be recomended that this position could not be filled by anyone with Party affiliation, that they must be relatively neutral. The finance minister should be elected directly by the people. Perhaps it should be considered that politcal parties be banned altogether. Would need would there be for them if the people directly vote on matters themselves? Or perhaps the meaning and service of politcal parties will be amended by a series of publicly proposed legislation changes.
There will be a national cryptocurrency. The total workings of this I haven't really thought through yet, backed perhaps by the tax take, or national resources, I don't know if it even has to have backing other than being an immutable ledger of exchange. But there is a clear advantage to having one in terms of social welfare and social political involvement. A universal wage could be payed to citizens with this cryptocurrency. Also each citizen will be rewarded with a specified amount of this cryptocurrency for each policy they vote on. This will encourage better voter turnout, better self education of the political landscape, and better public communication.
To make it happen, in the current environment, I imagine the strategy, almost ironically, is to form a political party, raise funds etc, try to build cross-party support from smaller parties and independents and have enough MP's elected to vote in this new system of government.
Such a great post! You definitely understand the essence of blockchain and its BlockChange capabilities. Politicians becoming shepherds based on trust and reputation. Allowing people to vote themselves and giving back the power to the people.
thanks! I intend to create a website to spread this idea, I'm sure it's an idea thats been had by more than just myself at this point but I'm starting to form a plan to bring this to the public.
Well if you ever want to talk more into detail about this subject just let me know. I work daily with companies who have such and other cool ideas with blockchain.