Sortition versus elections.

[ZombieHorde]

"It is accepted as democratic when public offices are allocated by lot; and as oligarchic when they are filled by election." --Aristotle

Early Greek democracies filled most political positions by a lottery, as opposed to elections. I believe using a lottery system (sortition) for the House and the Senate in the US would be very beneficial for most people.

I believe that the people with the most money are the most likely to win political positions in an election system, while poor people are the most likely to win political positions in a sortition system. Most people in the US are not in the 1% (duh), and they do not represent the rest of us (also duh). We represent us, so we should be in the positions of influence and policy making.

Rhett o rick wrote an OP about this the other day: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023137828



Party tribalism and obstructionism would be much less likely to occur, because the advantage of those things would be removed. No one needs to look tough because no one is up for reelection. People could just govern how they think best.

Worst case scenario in a sortition system is the people who win the lottery vote opposite of how you would like them to vote. However, we often have this scenario now, especially for liberals who live in red states, and vice versa. Having the House and the Senate filled by lot will mean that, statistically speaking, we will usually be well represented.

[Dawson Leery]

1. kick

[Robb]

2. I believe the idea was that participating in governance was an obligation, not a privilege

...like we might see jury duty today, perhaps, or military service obligations that remain in some countries.

I've always found the idea fascinating. Having lived in a very, very small town for some time, we joked that everyone had to take turns being mayor, and it was nearly true. We eliminated term limits for our council ultimately, because we kept cancelling elections -- no one interested in running, and council had to talk people into being willing to be appointed, just to get a quorum.

[ZombieHorde]

3. So funny. nt

[Sortitionist]

4. Sortition is the First Leg of Democracy

See my website: www.thecommonlot.com

The organization newDemocracy (sic) Foundation in Australia has some highly-placed former politicians calling for the use of sortition in limited ways. They've thus far got a municipality to hand over budget decision-making (of several million dollars) to a sortitionally-chosen citizens group.
A Belgian M.P. has recently proposed replacing elections in Belgium with sortition. Just a proposal (thus far!)
Iceland used sortition to choose the group of citizens who wrote the first draft of its new constitution.
Over a decade ago, British Columbia created a sortitionally chosen Citizens Assembly to propose sweeping political reforms. That went to a referendum (election) which was defeated 45%-55% … even though there had been widespread support (but I think big money won with a disinformation campaign).

[ZombieHorde]

5. Some great stuff on there. nt

[jdlaughead]

6. Election of LOT of Congress SORTITION

GRIDLOCK,GRIDLOCK,GRIDLOCK, Insider Trading on the stock market and Wall Street, Payoffs by lobbyists,Country OWNED and ruled buy the RICH, and SUPER RICH, not by the PEOPLE,

It is time to take America back, by one State at a time, by choosing are Representatives BY LOT. In fact in section 2. of the Constitution it states" The house of Representatives shall be composed of Members "CHOSEN" every second year by the people. It doesn't say how the Representative will be elected. It is up to each indivisible state, how he will be elected, not the congress.

I am from Vermont, we have one Representative, and our state might be the first to take this action. This would start to send a message if they don't get off their ass, they could all be out of Business. It won't be the parties or special interest groups running the house, it will be you and me and the People run the house.

Every State, City, Town uses Election by LOT, how do you think we get our Juries. They use election by LOT, because it is only the fair way. I find this is a very important book, and it could change your future and life in many ways.

SUPPORT "SORTITION" OF CONGRESS!

[gblady]

7. K&R

this makes sense.....
something MUST change soon.