Comments on: Let’s Play Political Philosopher! (Part II: Democracy) http://socratesvotes.com/2008/12/02/lets-play-political-philosopher-part-ii-democracy/ Political Philosophy and Applied Ethics for Regular Folks Sat, 26 Nov 2011 12:18:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Matt http://socratesvotes.com/2008/12/02/lets-play-political-philosopher-part-ii-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-137 Matt Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:05:14 +0000 http://socratesvotes.com/?p=453#comment-137 Welcome, Evan! Hmm. If that National Initiative for Democracy is viable, all the more reason we need to explain why democratic decisions have moral authority! It'll definitely ensure the govt. does what the majority wants, but again, what's so special about 50% +1? We can complicate matters with the fact that nowhere near 100% of the people actually vote, so rarely does a true majority of those bound by an initiative actually vote for it. For example, the majority of people who voted did so for Obama, but according to <a href="http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/11/population-and-popular-vote.html" rel="nofollow">FiveThirtyEight.com</a>, that was only 22.62% of Americans. The same would likely be true for any proposition or initiative we can think of. But set that aside for now and just focus on 50% +1. The more I think about it, the harder it is to justify respecting a decision <em>simply because</em> a majority endorse it. Is the <strong>only</strong> argument in democracy's favor is that it's the best we can do?! —Matt— Welcome, Evan!

Hmm. If that National Initiative for Democracy is viable, all the more reason we need to explain why democratic decisions have moral authority! It’ll definitely ensure the govt. does what the majority wants, but again, what’s so special about 50% +1?

We can complicate matters with the fact that nowhere near 100% of the people actually vote, so rarely does a true majority of those bound by an initiative actually vote for it. For example, the majority of people who voted did so for Obama, but according to FiveThirtyEight.com, that was only 22.62% of Americans. The same would likely be true for any proposition or initiative we can think of.

But set that aside for now and just focus on 50% +1. The more I think about it, the harder it is to justify respecting a decision simply because a majority endorse it. Is the only argument in democracy’s favor is that it’s the best we can do?!

—Matt—

]]> By: Evan Ravitz http://socratesvotes.com/2008/12/02/lets-play-political-philosopher-part-ii-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-135 Evan Ravitz Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:47:28 +0000 http://socratesvotes.com/?p=453#comment-135 Good points. Checks and balances are good. So most people want direct AND representative democracy. Except politicians, the people who buy them, and the lobbyists between. The Swiss have had both for centuries, and their national ballot initiatives have kept their Parliament honest, representative and humble. The most evolved project for a hybrid direct/representative democracy is led by former Sen. Mike Gravel. Registered voters can now vote to ratify the National Initiative for Democracy at http://Vote.org, much as citizens ratified the Constitution at the Conventions when the Legislatures wouldn't! Good points. Checks and balances are good. So most people want direct AND representative democracy. Except politicians, the people who buy them, and the lobbyists between. The Swiss have had both for centuries, and their national ballot initiatives have kept their Parliament honest, representative and humble.

The most evolved project for a hybrid direct/representative democracy is led by former Sen. Mike Gravel. Registered voters can now vote to ratify the National Initiative for Democracy at http://Vote.org, much as citizens ratified the Constitution at the Conventions when the Legislatures wouldn’t!

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