Why can't we improve democracy?

Question

I'm sure most of you must have noted a flaw in the practiced democracy. As majority in any country is low in mental maturity, perceptive ability and education its choice will simply be a reflection, in other words stupid. And unfortunately due to it being a choice of majority this choice becomes the so called leader. Why can't we assign a weight to each voter according to his/her mental maturity, education and perceptive ability and then calculate who should become the leader?

Answer 1

It's a great idea, but i think it is harder than we have now, but a system more similar to that would make more sense, you want to know why people don't register to vote? It is because they don't think they have any voice that is well represented, i mena in an ideal country we would have someone stable that understood america for everything it stands for, and what everyone in the U.S. Thinks. That is the problem with the two parties, they are complet opposites, half of the nation is upset when a democrat wins and half of the nation is upset when a republican wins. Of course it isn't aplit even, but whatever. Anyway, those voices don't get represented well enough, Those handful of us that get to be the ones that vote for nation wide laws, and officers, et. Are lucky, we get to chose. My teacher once told me that we have o trust them, that they will "sway" the way the state does. The sad thing is, they don't always do what the state wants them too. So if votes are for a republican, and then you have a whole group of those seven (where im from, its seven.) comes from the democratic town, they might be swayed to go for the democrat, at least, that is the impression I got from my teacher. "The only reason American Idol gets more votes, is because you don't have to register, or be over 18" -Me

Answer 2

The Greeks hasd the first form of democratic government. The Framers of the Constitution spend years creating our own. They did a very good job, since it still stands pretty much the way it was back then with only a few changes. We can improve it still, by reforming the Electoral College. That will be a long drawn out process, since it involves deciding on a way to vote in districts which note the vast differences in population and income levels in each state and area of the country. As our population changes, the system must.

Answer 3

You must have noticed that we don't live in a democracy. Policy isn't made because we vote. Policy is drafted ahead of time in closed-door think tanks and paid for by lobbyists, countryless corporations and above all, big oil.

As just one of countless examples you should be familar with:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-03-20-clarke_x.htm
After experts concluded again that Saddam Hussein played no role [in the 9/11 attacks], Clarke said, his memo "got bounced and sent back saying, 'Wrong answer. Do it again.'
...
... Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld urged bombing Iraq despite repeated assurances from intelligence officials that the threat emanated from Afghanistan. "Rumsfeld said there aren't any good targets in Afghanistan. And there are lots of good targets in Iraq."

What the average guy thinks or votes for is completely irrelevant. Occasionally we're asked to ratify a decision made by the real power holders months or years ago. The PR machine spins us an easily digestible story about the bad immigrants, the bad homosexuals or the bad terrorists, and we take the bait and feel at least a little represented.

Answer 4

Because the lawyers would jump all over that and cry out discrimination. Not that I would disagree with you now. I have always said that there should be a way to sterilize everyone at birth and later on(about 25 or so) they would be given a test to see if they can breed. If they can reverse the sterilization at no cost. Population control and it would raise the public I.Q. Of course then the show COPS would go off the air. Along with all reality TV.

Answer 5

You seem to have no small amount of contempt for your fellow citizens.

I'd respectfully encourage you to resist the temptation to heap scorn on others because they may or may not be as smart as you.

Instead, focus on those things in society which contribute to this "dumbing down" of the country (media infatuation with celebrity news, socio-economic deference to professional sports, a consumer culture that devalues humanity in favor of cheap goods, etc.). Help educate people as to how our various institutions, including the media and various school systems, indoctrinate people in the dominant socio-economic value system.

The only hope of changing the deplorable situation you see around you (and to be sure, it IS distressing) is by understanding how our various institutions influence us on a macro and micro level - then you might have some concrete ideas about how to change the things which concern you.

Answer 6

Well, simply because sheep can't vote. I agree with you that most people in this country are, shall we say, maturity challenged. But see, that is the problem. When the MAJORITY is that way, well, you get results like our current administration.
If we could only find a way to prevent the 'sheep' from breeding, we might be in good shape.

Answer 7

Democracy is improved all of the time. It has been refined over & over again by the wealthy, for the further benefit of the wealthy.

Now you propose that we devise a system where the value of a persons vote is based on their level of intelligence.

Purely an elitist point of view. Reminds me of what the Nazis proposed back in the '40's.

Answer 8

Won't work. I've known both stupid and smart democrats and republicans. You'll hit the same problems. Besides, it's usually the smart peolple that become corrupt. And that's the problems with democracy, as well as most major governments.

Answer 9

Great! Let's vote on how to define "mental maturity," "education," and "perceptive ability."

I'm sure you'll win the Nobel prize for governmenting.

Answer 10

That sounds like a good way to create a totalitarian state. The elite few rule over the masses.