Jason asks Lucinda Jackson, Kati Moulton, Dot Jager-Wentworth, Tamar Shirley…

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government reform

Considering the landscape of modern politics, even at the local level, at what point do you feel people deserve the right to vote for themselves? With modern technology we all have the ability to cast our own votes and no longer need elected representatives to do it for us. Would you support a system that had elected representatives debating the issues and presenting their recommendations, but left the actual voting up to the people? In other words, to what extent would you support a real democracy? Thank you

— Jason

Responses

Lucinda Jackson

The United States of America is a republic that employs democratic processes as a vehicle to help it function. A republic differs from a democracy in that the people rule, each person having an equal voice in how government and communities should function. This voice is done through representation on the federal, state, and local levels (highlighting the importance of people voting for every election). A republic also establishes rights and freedoms that all can enjoy even when the popular vote at that moment disagrees. Religious freedom and free speech are examples. A democracy is different in that the majority rule. Democracy without a republic framework is dangerous as it turns government and community into a popularity contest and silences the non-popular voice. Only in a republic will the people truly rule. Our founding fathers knew this from experience and built these wonderful principles into the framework of the United States Constitution.  

Kati Moulton

I wish I believed that every citizen could and would participate in a pure Democracy.  The truth is that we are a species of specializers.  Understanding the issues and mechanisms of public service is a specialized skill set.  I am not prepared to do my own electrical work or dentistry.  Not that I couldn’t learn given the time and training.  Instead, I choose to engage qualified individuals to do that specialized work for me, so I can focus on my own specializations. 

 

A federal democratic republic allows citizens to choose trusted representatives to do the work of government for them.  It is our responsibility to keep watch over those representatives, and communicate with them so they are informed on what we the people want them to do. 

 

If we want to reform the government we have now, I believe the real problem is the undue influence of corporations and special interest groups.  The whole system is unbalanced when dollars count more than phone calls and letters from constituents.  Corporations are not people. Corporate money is not protected speech.  Overturn Citizens United.