Occupy Wall Street Movement

[js207]

Simply put The TEA Party is for the Religious Right, The Occupy is for the Liberal Left

The Tea Party's largely fiscal rather than social conservatives, hence their use of the eponymous original Boston tax protests. The OWS crowd don't seem to have as coherent a position, but much of the complaining I've seen so far was about the colossal bailout/stimulus payouts - which would actually mean common ground with the Tea Party on issues, if not party lines. Another flaw of representative democracy as opposed to direct...

[Thorne]

Another flaw of representative democracy as opposed to direct...

Is this limited to representative democracy? I kinda doubt it. I think people would still tend to identify within groups, whether political, religious or social. And some would try to use that tendency to control people, just as the political groups do today. Maybe they wouldn't be Republican or Democrat, and maybe there would be more than just two, but there would still be divisions among people, and "leaders" who would exploit those divisions.

[denuseri]

Is this limited to representative democracy? I kinda doubt it. I think people would still tend to identify within groups, whether political, religious or social. And some would try to use that tendency to control people, just as the political groups do today. Maybe they wouldn't be Republican or Democrat, and maybe there would be more than just two, but there would still be divisions among people, and "leaders" who would exploit those divisions.

According to Political Science it happens in all forms of government...even small and primitive tribal ones.

The real question is how to make a system that takes all the greed and other bad factors out of play or minimizes them.

Something the framer's of our Constitution knew very well and were very concerned about making allowances for...when you read their personal musing during the process it becomes very apparent that even the most optimistic of them was mired in a very healthy dose of pessimism concerning the nature of their fellows and the effects holding power had upon the human psyche. They knew (as explained in the history of Political Science) that all governments have a tendency; no matter how well intentioned, to eventually move in directions that acquire and secure more and more power for the rulers at the expense of the ruled. Which is why Madison was so big on modeling us on the Romans...His hope was that by adopting what was useful from the worlds longest lasting Republic we would have time to figure this out and change as necessary (hence the elastic clause of the Constitution).

Adding a direct voting element is already in play in a lot of states on different issues and in the entertainment industry.

The main issue at play in the States is usually the item being voted on is an amendment of some kind and worded in such a fashion that only a lawyer can tell you in laymen s terms what happens if its passed or not.

[js207]

Is this limited to representative democracy? I kinda doubt it. I think people would still tend to identify within groups, whether political, religious or social. And some would try to use that tendency to control people, just as the political groups do today. Maybe they wouldn't be Republican or Democrat, and maybe there would be more than just two, but there would still be divisions among people, and "leaders" who would exploit those divisions.

It isn't exclusive to representative democracies, but worst there - when you're voting on specific issues it will be greatly diminished. Far more people would vote for a candidate they disagree with on an issue because of his party association than would vote directly against their own beliefs because some party platform or figure said so.