Looking to Athenian democracy for solutions
Modern democracy has many problems; not least because of the tyranny of the majority. To think of practical reform however, we must go back to its origins.
Modern democracy has many problems; not least because of the tyranny of the majority. To think of practical reform however, we must go back to its origins.
The Athenian style of democracy was direct. Any citizen could debate and take part in the decision making process, but of course most Athenians were not citizens but slaves or ‘immigrants’. Thus Athens really was run by a small minority of those who could afford to invest a great deal of time in political life- and these people tended to be the rich or well educated.
Of course this system would not work in the modern world for a variety of reasons, but the core of it could be feasibly translated into a workable system. Instead of voting for representatives and all the mess that entails, would it not be better to grant a kind of ‘citizen’ status to doctors, lawyers, other experts and those with certain quialifications the right to enter, vote and debate in parliament?
Laws would only be passed when a majority of the individuals in the chamber agree to it. The right to take part in a form of limited direct democracy would then be earned by individuals based on their own achievements and merits.
It would do away with political parties, elections, ministers and media subversion. The chamber itself would also be self regulating, having the right to strip anyone of their status if they’re found to be guilty of corruption, and, as all have equal power, no one person would have the capacity to push through laws paid for by business or donors anyway.
To get anything done, then, every individual member would have to be convinced of the merit of legislation on an individual basis making the likelihood that good decisions are made far higher; and with the added effect of a far greater need for oratory skills, that would hopefully make speeches given by these new citizens far better.
This system would also mean that a far wider range of people would fulfill the role that politicians do now, meaning that experts in many fields and those with military or other useful experience would also be present and able to have a positive impact on law.
‘Citizen status’ would probably have to be forced on most of the people eligible for it, creating very probably a much improved governing class compared to the one we have now. One who would view governance as a civic duty rather than a career or ambition. This I believe would create a far better system of government than the one we have now, and would solve many of the problems associated with democracy.
