Re:The Electorial College Ate My Vote (Score 1)

True democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what's for dinner.

Majority rules is indeed that. Democracy in its purest sense is very simply: the rule of the people. The only forms of democracy that have been espoused heavily have been forms of majority rule centering on the idea of voting, and 1 person 1 vote, all of which are a VERY imperfect form of democracy. On the other hand, democracy is necessarily imperfect because humans are imperfect.

But there are some good ideas for how to make government that is more democratic (more about the will of the people).

1) Consensus. All major decisions require the consensus of the representatives. Representatives may stand aside, or support a measure, but if they block, it fails. A way of summing up the case for consensus: Consensus is the only option for situations where you cannot afford a disaffected minority. And I would argue that in this country, as it is, we cannot afford that minority if we are to go forward in building a great society. Consensus is far more workable than most people immediately respond -- if we were forced into the situation, we could make it work. Government would move even more slowly than it does now, though. But we'd get better results, and less hatred.

2) Partisan majorities. Decisions require a clear majority of every representative party -- i.e. 51% of republicans, 51% of democrats, 51% of elected greens (none at the moment). A fairer version of this requires 51% of parties with more than 3 representatives.

Jeff