Thoughts.

[tinyjo]

I have learned how to run a really hot bath in my house. This is a very good thing. It doesn't count as a proper bath unless it steams slightly in my book.

Also, thinks.

Does anyone know any good stuff on modes of government because I'm starting to become cynical about democracy as an idea - watching Blunkett fight with the judiciary and with the Lords over the Terrorism bill has definitely shaken my faith in the whole idea. This is not to say that I think that the House of Lords should remain hereditary - far from - but there must be some other way to choose people to govern than popularity contests and short termist mob rule. What we need are people who are experts in their fields (economists, philosophers, medical ethicists, diplomats, lawyers/judges) not people who want to go into politics - it does seem these days to be a bit of a case of those who can do and those who can't become politicians. I am also suspicious of the (particularly American) almost religious attitude that the West is taking to democracy - we WILL make all other countries democratic or know the reason why!

Basically I feel like democracy is running out of steam or possibly collapsing under it's own weight. The politicians have become so good at telling us what we want to hear that no-one believes what they say any more. Maybe there will have to be a new way of doing things soon - after all, what will they do when less than 50% of people vote?

Comments

Re: How to vote better

[tinyjo.livejournal.com]

I agree with what you're saying as far as democracy goes - it's actually quite similar to a scheme I had once - but what I meant was more "is voting for people to make the laws the best way of choosing them?" I felt that debates like that over the anti-terrorism bill showed that there were distinct benefits to the Lords not being beholded to either the court of public opinion or the parties for their re-election. Trouble is I can't think of any other fair/reasonable ways of selecting them