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Is democracy without elections possible? Could a lottery be better? (aeon.co)

submitted 1 week ago by alyaza@beehaw.org to c/politics@beehaw.org

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For most people today, public elections are synonymous with democracy. However, between 508 and 322 BCE, Athenians favoured a lottery system known as ‘sortition’. They largely believed it to be more fair, representative and responsive to the public interest than elections, which are often influenced by money and can foster destructive political polarisation. In this animation, Michael Vazquez, associate director of the Parr Center for Ethics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, breaks down both the potential of lottery-based systems and their limits. In particular, he highlights an updated lottery system conceived by the US philosopher Alex Guerrero, designed to address flaws in earlier models and some of the most pressing problems in contemporary electoral politics.

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[–] Archangel1313@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (6 children)

In theory, rule by lottery might sound good...but have you met the average person living next door to you? Just imagine what President Cletus of Buttfuck, Appalachia would do with a ten year term in office.

[–] JillyB@beehaw.org 6 points 6 days ago

Appalachia has been politically stepped on by everyone for generations. That's a big part of why they're poor. Cletus may not be an expert on how to run a country but I bet he would help out some Appalachians. Your blatant classism is pretty gross.

[–] communist@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz 3 points 6 days ago

Good luck making the case against president Cletus when trump is currently in office

[–] Womble@piefed.world 13 points 1 week ago

There is lots of evidence that when people are given the space and time to take account of issues they take it seriously, looking down on people because they are poor and rural isn't a good look.

[–] hanrahan@slrpnk.net 5 points 1 week ago

as opposed to Trump?

[–] AHemlocksLie@lemmy.zip 4 points 1 week ago

From my understanding, a few places have tested it, and it always works surprisingly well. Arguably better than career politicians. It sounds counter intuitive, I know, but how much of that is because we spent the last 4+ millennia living under career politicians and being propagandized by them?

[–] A_be_seedy@beehaw.org 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I actually can imagine it. Its not that big a stretch.

[–] altphoto@lemmy.today 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

He might bring racoon fights to the dirty white house.

[–] A_be_seedy@beehaw.org 2 points 1 week ago

I'm voting for this guy! What a step up!