As the world ponders the implications of the U.S. midterm elections–and the resulting Republican majority in the Senate, I thought I’d post a visual clue to its meaning. Sortition advocate Zach Roberts has kindly given me permission to reproduce a chart he created. It shows that the distribution of seats typical in the U.S. Senate … Continue reading
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TED talk points to growth in sortition movement
This TED talk by Brett Hennig gives a great summary of the benefits of sortition and the surge of interest in this egalitarian form of democracy around the world. Continue reading
British Columbia’s coalition government misses the sortition option in its election survey
British Columbia is set to move toward a revised system of forming its government. The province is conducting a survey asking its citizens what type of selection system they prefer. The current first-past-the post electoral system hasn’t worked well for the two parties now in power. The New Democratic Party won the most seats in … Continue reading
The Prime Minister is an appointee
It’s interesting to note that Stephen Harper, who rails against the appointment system for the Senate, was never elected Prime Minister by the people of Canada. He was elected by his party. So Harper shouldn’t set himself up as an example of a democratic electoral system. Rather, given the nature of politicking, he’s an example … Continue reading
The fourth option for Senate reform
This morning’s CBC newscast showed a viewer’s emailed comment about the Senate expense scandal. The viewer wrote that in the next election the ballot should give voters three choices: appoint senators elect senators abolish the senate There’s a fourth choice that should go on the ballot: increase the size of the Senate and select senators … Continue reading
A new name for sortition?
The jury system has long given governmental powers to citizens selected by lot. About 10 years ago, the government of British Columbia randomly chose members for a Citizens Assembly. It’s 160 randomly selected members were asked to come up with a new electoral system for the province. Both juries and the B.C. experiement could be … Continue reading
Ford, Coderre, Brazeau, Duffy and Wallin: their stories suggest a bold change to the system
This morning, the embattled franchise of Toronto mayor Rob Ford leaped ahead of the Senate scandal as the lead story in Canada’s news media. Accused of smoking crack cocaine, Ford proposed that police release a video of his alleged activity. Presumably they can’t do that without authorization from the courts. Also today it was announced … Continue reading
Those old Greeks had a great idea
I’ve thought about basic democracy for probably 10 years, but that’s just an instant since basic democracy began. More than two-and-a-half millennia ago Athens was run by a boule, a group of 50 men appointed from 10 tribes. In 507-508 BC, Cleisthenes (also spelled Kleisthenes) reformed the boule by expanding it to 500 men who were … Continue reading
Basic Democracy 