Thanks for the thoughtful reply BB. Don’t mean to ambush your post here. I’m under no illusion that you want or care about my opinion on this matter. The topic just really strikes a cord. Before I respond, know I’m happy to take down these and my prior comments if you’d like. This is your post...just say the word.
It seems we agree on many things. I’m just not sure we agree on the definition of certain terms.
If you're labeling Nazi Germany a representative democracy, then we have VERY different definitions of what constitutes a representative democracy. The majority of Germans voted Hitler into office, but were opposed to what Hitler did with that power. The problem was, they didn't realize what he intended to do until it was too late. Only after individual rights were stripped, did Hitler start revealing his true intentions. Shortly after, Germany became a dictatorship. At that point, no one could say anything negative about Hitler, or his thugs, for fear being tortured and/or killed. Elected officials were not able to represent their constituents for fear of death. It was actually the polar opposite of a representative democracy and a classic example of a direct democracy morphing into a dictatorship.
Thank you for sharing your post from a year ago. It’s very interesting and well written. That said, I strongly disagree with some of it...at least I think. Again, depends on if we’re defining terms the same way.
If I understand your post correctly, you’re saying those with higher IQ’s should be given more voting power. Basically consolidating power in the hands of a few, but those few would be the most “intelligent”. Of course your idea is more complex, but that’s the end result, correct?
If so, what would stop the few intelligent citizens from just overtly or covertly enslaving the rest?
I think your answer to that is (correct me if I’m wrong), you feel the smartest people will realize the eventual outcome of corruption and choose not to be corrupt. To quote your post,
“...there won't be any government officials who can grab power. The selfish geniuses will be outnumbered by the good ones or outweighed by the even smarter ones. Sufficiently intelligent people won't vote against the interests of the community and they won't forget about the interests of minorities. Why? Because they're clever enough to figure out what will happen if they do. They will be aware that previous and current systems have failed/are failing for that very reason. On a more personal level; they won't want to become the next King Louis XVI or Marie Antoinette”.
Unfortunately, I think history has proven that false. Assuming the majority of intelligent people are also good, moral people (huge assumption), it still doesn’t address the problem of power.
Even the most pure, intelligent, good hearted leaders are inevitably blinded and corrupt by power. It’s as predictable as the sun rise. Even those initially with the best of intentions, inevitably are corrupted if left in power long enough...and no one voluntarily gives up power. Well, almost no one. George Washington did, but only because he knew if he accepted the position of king, he'd be seduced by the same power he'd just fought so hard to be free of.
It’s the very same reason socialism never works. It can be created with the best of intentions, but will ALWAYS fail due to imperfect human nature and centralized power’s unfailing ability to corrupt.
Putting all that aside, the definition of a direct democracy is simply, majority rule. It seems like your definition of a direct democracy is not at all a democracy (as defined traditionally). So again, maybe we’re just defining terms differently?
I certainly don’t have all the answers. While imperfect, it seems a representative democracy (as defined by America’s founders) is the best system humans have created to date. The further away America gets from that, the worse it gets. Blockchain gives us the ability to get America back to a true representative democracy. A place where the feds do not yield more power over my personal life than my local mayor. A place where backroom deals can not take place without the public knowing. A place where lobbyists are irrelevant because the feds no longer have the power to make or break private industry. A place where blockchain allows a true free market to exist and all to be treated equal under the law. "I have a dream....", just joking. I'll leave MLK out of this. 😉
Anyway...I’ve rambled on long enough. Here’s to blockchain ushering in a better system than what we have today. Enjoy your weekend my friend!
RE: Give me Liberty, or give me Death! – Part 2