Good Morning, Kristofer
re: (with regard to whether we have the stomach to require that
legislators be maintained at a government installation,
protected from direct access by lobbyists, to prevent the
subornation of those we select to represent us in our
government.)
Like you, I don't know if it will happen, but we should consider it. We
don't know how or when our political processes will change. They may,
as most rational people would prefer, evolve slowly. If so, the need or
lack thereof, for such a course will manifest itself. On the other
hand, change could come quickly or violently. In such a case, given our
knowledge of the means by which the original modern representative
democracy has been degraded, it is possible such a remedy could be
imposed. In either case, it is an option we should study and openly
discuss.
[Footnote on quick or violent political change.
We must note that, for such a change to benefit the people,
it must transcend party lines. The American Revolution was a
broad-based revolt, prosecuted by very diverse interests not
least of which were geographical, maritime, industrial and
agricultural. When such a change is partisan-inspired (like
the Fascist Party in Italy, the Communist Party in China and
Russia, and the National Socialist Party in Germany), the
change redounds to the benefit of the party, not the people.]
re: "What I mean by radical transparency is not transparency of
the candidates' thoughts, but rather an as extensive
disclosure of the information that is part of the process."
Thank you for the link to the Wikipedia entry on 'radical transparency'.
It seems to me what you referred to as 'the continuation phase' of
Practical Democracy, the phase during which constituents guide or direct
their representatives, is precisely what is meant by radical
transparency. Viewed from the perspective that political actions "are
considered to lack legitimacy until a clear, radically transparent
decision has been made concerning them", gives the idea of imposing
'rule by constituents' (where those who select a public official
participate in the decisions made by the official) rational appeal. The
method certainly embodies the means by which it can be done. And, of
course, the internet provides the means for cheap, convenient and
pervasive implementation.
Fred
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