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Technology enables real direct democracy

Why don't we use technology to have a real Direct Democracy?

In democracy’s origin, all citizens gathered together to make decisions on relevant matters. As populations grow this became impossible and the best choice to keep the model was electing representatives. We currently have the technological capability to have a large part of the population or may be all the population (if we talk about cell phones)of many countries making choices real-time on topics each individual is interested in. So we have a chance to get back to the ideal democracy and avoid many of the problems that arise from the representation model.
I think it’s time to get at least a hybrid model where people can easily and massively participate in the decision process. I’m very interested in the community’s perspective on this. The perspective is science based, publicly open and available to all.

A fine example here (thanks Lucas):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demoex
http://demoex.org/

http://CitizenME.org (thanks DK)

Other links provided in the posts:
http://www.ted.com/conversations/102/provide_the_tools_and_knowledg.html?c=194830
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/clay_shirky_how_cognitive_surplus_will_change_the_world.html
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/david_bismark_e_voting_without_fraud.html
www.lindsaynewlandbowker.posterous.com
http://www.peopleandparticipation.net/display/Methods/Consensus+Conference
http://www.whitehouse.gov/openforquestions
http://www.usnowfilm.com
http://www.whitehouse.gov/open
http://www.metagovernment.org/wiki/Active_projects
http://www.worldwork.org/
http://www.metagovernment.org/
http://www.dgsociety.org/


Regards!

JB

Julian Bianco - originally posted to Ted Talks Conversations forum.

Implement a TED-style Open-democracy social-networking Website for gov, citizens, voting on issues, bills, elections, local, state, National

The US government should start a TED-clone forum to open up democracy and engage the public. Video clips would be elected officials and cabinet discussing real issues and solutions on stage in a public forum. And the site should have all the functions of Ted if not more-even voting with a paper trail and the counts sent to your in-box--perhaps even petition like. On the site could be activist ads, and petitions and letter signing functions (TED could do the same), and links to social media and not-for-profit organizations. Sequestered in a neat out of the way window that doesn't clutter the message.

Citizens could even be given a password and user-name with proper details, birth date/residence, etc. or even an up-link card to access the site anywhere with the swipe of an identity card (optional)--as in Internet cafes and hotels and bus/train stations, cafes.

It should be equipped with email-sharing forums for connecting people with skills and like ideas to get movements and local businesses devoted to community started.

Business is an extension of a community, it is empowered by the community-it must reflect and serve the community, therefore the nation, the world, the people....happiness and equality will flourish, and government will be held accountable (more so than now).

On this site-should be a box for 'VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE"--impeaching and censuring elected officials. (that would have to be loosely moderated somehow). otherwise every crank will be impeaching representatives. But the idea is to include more citizens in the decision making process--evolving into a direct-democracy based on reason, research, and activism.

None of this top down control and rule we have today. The people are not being heard, not being listened to, and blatantly-ignored, disenfranchised.
Money talks and citizens are fodder and dead peasants to government and big corporations. The military is the tip of the spear for behemoths, corporations:big-gov welfare. Hmm.

Joshua Bigley - originally posted to Ted Talks Conversations forum.