“Democracy is the worst system of government, except for all the others.” (Winston Churchill): Or is it?

The U.S of A prides itself not only as a bastion of democracy, and on its somewhat bizarre and repeatedly proven fallible conviction that its version thereof should be thrust on all and sundry (and boy, Iraq is about as sundry as one can get) – but also on the processes by which the peoples’ choice of guardians and implementers of said democracy get their jobs. Ha!

Let’s not even dwell on how the current El Supremo managed to steal his first election to that office, and let’s leave it to historians, current and future, to opine whether or not ‘he that must be obeyed’ (a little bit of mutated plagiarism) will be deemed to be the most disastrous holder ever of that office; let’s just take a look at what’s been going on – for how long is it now? – to determine which of the current aspirants to that office will end up with all the marbles.

The very basis of the democratic process is, of course, the one(old enough)-person, one-vote axiom, but with some de facto assumptions like sufficient literacy to cope with registration procedures and ballot forms that are frequently unnecessarily (and deliberately?) complicated. Interesting idea really, since about half of any group of people – especially large ones like electorates – are, by definition, of below average intelligence, and that lot are tacitly expected to make ‘informed decisions’, despite clear evidence that many of them – and, for that matter, no few of the above average group too – don’t have the appetite for becoming well-informed, as evidenced, for example, by the sensitivity of the polls to the latest most often basically irrelevant gaffes by each of the contenders for office. Those gaffes may prove decisive, however, but how can they be avoided during campaigns as long and tedious as that in which the current adversaries have been engaged?

OK, Sir Winston, your epigrammatic utterings do tend to be hammer-like in their treatment of nails, but isn’t even your attenuated faith in democracy based on assuming that the electorate can be depended upon to separate the wheat from the gaffe?

Technorati Tags: democracy, electorates, the primaries

Comments

[marc]

Hi

You may be interested into this first technology that unleashes the “wisdom of the crowds” and that will help voters influence the elections.
:)

From a fan reader of your blog
:)

Right People reveals today the first technology that unleashes the “wisdom of the crowds”, in favor of the next President of the United States!

Right People launches today the first technology that unleashes the “wisdom of the crowds”, in favor of the next President of the United States. Right People Technologies is bringing a new twist to the American presidential elections with “Right People for the President”, a website that will enable web users to help their favorite candidate win the elections. The technology used by Right People will give the candidates direct feedback from the American voters, with ideas and contributions on strategic campaign issues. A new way for the people to make their voices heard from the future President.

Dan Ake, Right People CEO explains: “We created Right People for the President because people want to be part of the presidential elections - especially the 2008 edition one - , because people want more and more to speak up and be listened to. Regular blog comments do not give them the satisfaction of being useful enough. We are very excited to help the people being heard.”

This brand new application from Right People’s search platform is now available online at http://www.rightpeopleforthepresident.com , through a dedicated website as well as numerous political sites and blogs. Beyond the elections, everyone should have the opportunity to help the next President of the US on his policies both at federal and local level.

A viral technology to involve potential voters
The technology used by Right People for the President gives voters an answer to their need for an arena of expression, encouraging them to get involved and not stay passive during the elections process. Right People for the President gives voters a compelling reason to engage their community of friends to support them and their candidate. The motivation to have a suggestion forwarded to the candidate, along with your picture, encourages a viral usage of the Right People player.

A viral technology to involve media and bloggers
Right People for the President can be inserted in a website or a blog in an easy copy-and-paste procedure. It gives bloggers a way to reinforce their influence, and an efficient way for their readers to be active regarding the elections. It gives them a compelling reason to engage their community of readers to support the candidate of their choice. The motivation to have a suggestion coming from their blog forwarded to the candidate encourages a viral usage of the Right People player.

« Right People for the President » is a ground breaking first in the history of the American elections; it brings forward the social media technology as a new tool for democracy.

[frontierblog]

I cannot agree more, actually I wrote a similar post weeks ago

Edward

Frontier Blog - No one ahead, no one behind
http://www.hwswworld.com/wp

[frontierblog]

I cannot agree more, actually I wrote a similar post weeks ago

Edward

Frontier Blog - No one ahead, no one behind
http://www.hwswworld.com/wp

[Lance Puig]

Perfectly written.

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it brings forward the social media technology as a new tool for democracy.

[arabmuslim]

There is no democracy in Israel as a state is illegitimate and illegal and not recognized
Evidence of this if anyone wanted to write a comment in the Israeli websites
Does not allow him or be there are many obstacles to prevent him from writing a comment The reasons for Arab-Israeli conflict is the occupation of Palestine in 1948.
Palestine Arab Islamic state like the rest of the Arab and Islamic states surrounding
Them. Means that there are Jews and Zionists in Palestine a big mistake, because this entity
Zionist is not consistent with the surrounding area (such as language, customs, traditions and religion)
The only solution to end the Arab-Israeli conflict is the expulsion of Jews from Palestine
All of Palestine. The Jewish people will not rest and will not feel comfortable and stability
But if it gets out of Palestine and the Middle East completely. If people continue to
Jews in Palestine and the Middle East, the death and destruction will continue.
Palestine Arab Islamic state and will remain

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