A possible solution to leadership failure is clear: Scrap elections and replace them with democratic lotteries. In place of elected officials would be, as the ancient Greeks envisioned, Ho Boulomenous, or “anyone who wishes.”
Instead of electing rich, polished politicians who are tied to special interests, we should be getting the masses to govern. They want to replace the entire legislature with ordinary people, selected at random in the same way we choose jackpot winners.
Wonder if this would work? I mean jurors are chosen randomly (in the USA anyway). I’m not involved in US politics, but it did get me thinking that there are a lot of problems with politics in general, and politicians. With a random process we’d also end up rotating these people like banks do for bank managers to ensure there is no entrenchment and working around the system. Can it be worse than is already happening in some countries? Clearly “elected officials” have not been shining brightly around the world.
I didn’t know I’ll look it up.
But in France the president has absolute power. And the electoral system is designed (deliberately) to concentrate power, and is badly hobbled in other ways too. France would be an example of not to do, designing a democracy.
This might interest you too.
Well no the president doesn’t have absolute power. The national assembly has most of the power. Of course, very often the national assembly will just follow the government but still.
The president chooses (and frequently replaces) the government. The president appoints a large chunk of the assembly. The elections are coordinated to ensure the President’s party has a majority of the other seats. The fifth republic has many mechanisms to ensure all power rests with the president.
In what sense does the assembly keep any power?
The president doesn’t appoint large chunks of the assembly. Before changing the rules, there used to be a couple of cohabitations. The assembly does keep legislative power. Proof is they don’t always go 100% with the government even when they are from the same party.
Though I agree a change would be very welcoming.
You’re right. I don’t know why I thought otherwise.