With the availability of the cellphone, why are we not directly representing ourselves in government?

Question

We have the technology to finally directly represent ourselves within our government. Why can't we make party politics illegal, and directly represent ourselves in the lawmaking process?

If it's possible to vote via your cellphone on some stupid gameshow...why not make it more practical?

It doesn't matter whether you're a liberal or conservative, republican or democrat...everyone that participates has a voice and majority would rule. Then I wouldn't have to choose the lesser of two evils in the voting booth election year after election year.

Maybe the job thats currently held by our representatives now should be changed so that they can tabulate results & suggested changes for their region &/or state.

Cellphone are affordable to everyone nowadays...even the flat rate phones...

I would say that the vendor would have control of what's charged. Although, cell phone providers are pretty regulated now.

Obiviously, there would be security issues that would present themselves and they would have to be dealt with.

Yes, cuban friend...we do have a democratic-republic, but it is still a democracy (even in part) nonetheless...

I would much rather have my own say in the happenings of our government than have some moron that would answer to the RNC or DNC (not to Jo Blo citizen) that I helped elect because there wasn't a better option. Party politics should be illegal.

Answer 1

Rule one! YOU DO NOT LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY!
You live in a republic, or representative democracy
Rule Two! Be thankful for that fact. Haven't you seen some of the answers on this site?
Rule three! Whenever you think you ought to be in charge of the country, refer to rule one.
Let's go back to school and take government 101, Shall we?
Our founding fathers saw the problems with a democracy and sought to avoid it as did the Roman empire by putting representative in office to represent the wishes of the people, This is the house of representatives. They also wanted Senators to represent the will of the States. The Senate!
These are the lawmakers. If you are unhappy with them, you have the right to vote them out of office at each election. Consider this, Would you want a typical modern American teenager to set national policy? Like, ya no, lets mak a law dat u can like du wat evr u want and ****. Sounds too good to be true doesn't it?

Edit You may be right, but I still think that we should vote out every incumbent until we start getting a congress that represents us. I am a Libertarian in principle, but since Harry Brown they have not been too well organized or responsible either. I still don't want to have mob rule or people will vote like sheep for whatever Oprah says or Tom Cruise or George Clooney or any other idiot out there who looks good on camera. Whoops, thats what we have now. I'm game for any other solution

Answer 2

I think you would still have the problem a true democracy has. First off, it would mean so many votes and would take time and be difficult to count. Second, not everybody would participate. It costs money when you send in a text message (more than just the normal cost of texting) to those gameshows. Also, some probably couldn't be bothered. Third (and this isn't a problem they had in ancient Greece, but would still be a problem nowadays), not everybody can afford a cell phone. Is it fair to discount their voice just because they don't have enough credit or money to obtain a cell phone? Fourth (again, a more modern problem) how would you stop "scammers"? With so many pay as you go phones, would it really be possible to stop voter fraud?

Answer 3

No because you still have to be registered to vote and that would be hard to do with cellphones..

I think that it would be a god idea though. Mondays at 8 have a discussion about what is being voted on...and get ALL the facts out there so people will KNOW what they are voting for.

Then vote...but there is that whole thing of making sure who is actually voting...and will standard text messaging fees still apply?

Answer 4

I also think it is a great idea, however, I don't think we can do it just yet. Maybe 10 to 15 years from now.