[LINK] Senator Online

[David Boxall]

On 18/08/2010 9:37 AM, Philip Argy wrote:
> Maybe the party system has gone too far ...
Our democracy does seem to have degraded. It was always pretty bad (but, 
as Churchill said, the best of all we've tried over the years). I reckon 
we've just become too clever: too good at manipulating people (often 
fooling ourselves in the process).

Closely examining the antics of our politicians, many seem quite mad.

> ... Not sure what the democratic equivalent
> of market failure is but I fear we're about to realise it.
Interesting insight. It seems fairly clear that change is necessary, 
much as the GFC has spawned proposals to re-impose financial controls. 
The question is, what controls could be imposed on politics?

I wonder what the political equivalent of recession or depression is. 
Did we see it in Germany before World War II? In Cambodia before Year Zero?

> ... This thread is simply to consider
> technological as well as philosophical implications of what SOL are
> proposing.
> ...
Technology is less of an issue than people. Technology makes 
participatory democracy feasible. The problem is, only those with 
necessary skills and time can participate. I fear that many won't have 
the skills and most of those that do won't have the time. Do we risk 
ending up in a country controlled by people who don't have what we might 
call "lives"?

-- 
David Boxall                         | "Cheer up" they said.
                                     | "Things could be worse."
http://david.boxall.id.au            | So I cheered up and,
                                     | Sure enough, things got worse.
                                     |              --Murphy's musing