Introduction

Our purpose is to consider whether current election processes produce the best-qualified candidates to serve in government, and, if not, how they can be made to do so. To cite Dr. Jane Junn in a 2003 lecture at The Teachers College at Columbia University:

• "To properly address the problems of democracy, we must train the focus of our policy recommendations ... on the structures and institutions of government itself ..."
• "... We must ask whether citizens are being presented with adequate resources to act, and how we might reenvision the incentives for political engagement to be more inclusive of all citizens."
• "... we should continually strive to improve our democratic system of institutions and structures."
• "But it must be a democracy that is enacted in a way that provides equal access and opportunities to participate."

The task is formidable.

While I may have an idea or two
The important views will come from you
Concepts devised in a single brain
Can oft by logic be split in twain

We seek productive participation with a touch of humor to help the flow of ideas. Posts should focus on the selection process and avoid discussion of specific political issues or candidates. Such topics are fraught with emotional triggers. Participants must not only post with courage and honesty, but also with courtesy and respect. Posts should make or counter a point. When one agrees with another poster, their contribution will be more effective if they add insight or logic supporting the point.

Participant's views are important. To insure that they are prominent, I will (upon request) add serious, thoughtful posters as additional authors on this blog. In that way, their posts will appear at the primary level instead of as (buried) comments.

Our discussion will be in English (the only language I know). Since English does not have a monopoly on great ideas, I will be happy to help non-English speakers with English phrasing to the extent of my ability and time.

Fred

Selecting Leaders, Partisanship

Kristofer Munsterhjelm, in extended discussion on the Electorama site and in private emails, explained why good government must include proportional representation for the many diverse interests of the people. Careful consideration of Kristofer's description showed that society would benefit if special interests are able to participate as a group, provided the rest of society is equally well represented. Practical Democracy ensures that those who are not members of organized groups will also be represented by including the entire electorate in the electoral process.

Groups of people who share a common interest are incomparably different from entities organized for the purpose of achieving political power. The following describes how Practical Democracy integrates proportional representation for partisans of diverse interests without letting the interest groups control the process. It is hereby incorporated in the Selecting Leaders section, above.

Selecting Leaders, Partisanship

At any time up to one week before an election, voters may declare themselves to be members of any party or may create a new party, simply by declaring membership in it. Voters that do not declare party membership will automatically be assigned to a set of voters with no party affiliation. The Election Commission will create triads from members of the same party, as long as more than two members of a party advance. When less than three members of a party advance, the party's remaining candidates are merged with the unaligned candidates. This allows elevation of the advocates for partisan interests to the highest level supported by the party's membership.

This change reduces the risk of suitable candidates being shut out at the lowest level and encourages thorough examination of the tenets of partisan views. It makes Practical Democracy responsive to the interests of the people. The public is encouraged ... and empowered ... to support the ideas that are important to them. Special interests maintain their identity through multiple levels, depending on the size of the party, and the champions for partisans advance to levels where they can promote their cause. Each party achieves influence in government commensurate with the public support its cause inspires.

This modification corrects the abuses of the present system of party politics because, under Practical Democracy, voters with no party affiliation have a voice. Special interests will be represented in our government, but, more importantly, the people will be represented, too.

Fred Gohlke