Democracy 2.0

BEASTERLY

I was hoping that you learned folks of After Hours could evaluate my genius idea for me.

It's become quite clear that democracy doesn't work (Mick Wallace). Here's my plan. Before every election and referendum everybody who is registered to vote has to sit an exam. This exam will test political, social and economic literacy. The people with a result in the top 20% are eligible to vote. This way we have the most informed electorate possible. Some might see this as unfair but in my opinion the ignorant have no place in making decisions for this country.

For the same reason I would propose an even more stringent examination of would be candidates for local and general elections. Details to follow at a later date.

Is there a way I could submit my proposal to the policy makers?

P.S: Don't tell Gerry Adams, no doubt he would mount opposition to this measure that would decimate the Sinn Féin vote.

Red_Wake

A decimation means only 1/10th is eliminated mate.;)

FatherLen

even the most intelligent can still make bad choices.

dmc17

ah reckon this hyar w'd be a fantastic idea

Skrynesaver

Would be curious to see the test ie. is economic literacy slavish belief in free market economics?

charlietheminxx

Surely it would make more sense to have any political candidates running sit such an assessment?

hooradiation

BEASTERLY wrote: »

I was hoping that you learned folks of After Hours could evaluate my genius idea for me.

It's become quite clear that democracy doesn't work

Entire premise built on faulty idea.
Must try harder.

forfuxsake

I suggest a poll.

Is my idea?

1.$hite
2.fúcking retarded

dmc17

forfuxsake wrote: »

I suggest a poll.

Is my idea?

1.$hite
2.fúcking retarded

3. all of the above

Pherekydes

BEASTERLY wrote: »

It's become quite clear that democracy doesn't work.

It worked grand in 1933 Germany.

Funglegunk

OP, I vote you lead the police vanguard during the riots.

forfuxsake

Anyone else feel the OP wouldn't do too well in a competency to partake in a democratic election test?

Mr Benevolent

Democracy only works if it's a true democracy, not the elected oligarchy most countries use.

4zn76tysfajdxp

Red_Wake wrote: »

A decimation means only 1/10th is eliminated mate.;)

Okay, you're in.

Who's next?

seamus

Two issues:

1. Who sets out the criteria for the exam? Nothing to stop the scoring to be biased in one way or another.

2. The top 20% over time will become a subset of the population with the most interest in politics, the greatest ability to cram and retain facts, and the most money to pay for grinds. Democracy is designed to prevent exactly these kind of people from making decisions for everyone else.

In reality you could say that democracy already works in a semi-elitist way in that the simple act of registration is already too difficult for some of the less educated members of society.

The only problem with democracy in Ireland is that people don't understand the difference between local and national politics. We elect people to our national parliament on the basis that they'll get things done locally. A TD should never be getting involved in planning applications - that's what you elected a county councillor for! The TD is there to represent your local interests at a national level, not your local interests at a local level.

Yet gob****es still vote for the Healy-Raes on the promise that they'll get an international airport in some backwater ****hole in Kerry rather than more tangible things like, oh I dunno, "Let's get out of the economic mire".

If we drastically reduced the size of the Dail and set up rules in relation to things that TDs can and cannot stick their noses into, it would be a different type of parliament completely, and the Healy-Raes can go back to local politics where they belong.

ejmaztec

Macy Acidic Cheesecloth wrote: »

Okay, you're in.

Who's next?

Sorry to be a spelling nazi, but that should be "urine".

Gee Bag

Democracy 2.0 appears to be very similar to Facism 2.0

ScumLord

The reason democracy doesn't work is because the people in charge (the general population) are asleep at the wheel. Elected politicians are just employees and they get nothing but conflicting demands of ignorant people that haven't the first clue what they're talking about.

Until everybody get's more involved in the running of their community's and country instead of expecting to be waited on hand and foot by media whore idiots nothing will ever change.