swampfox
12-11-2007, 03:44 PM
We have discussed on this board many examples of dirty politicians and how it seems impossible to get rid of them because they keep getting re-elected.
Made me wonder whether voting in secret, as has been standard for us for a long time, is really a good thing in general and also whether it is an important part of having a democracy. Lately it looks to me like voting in secret may be destroying our democracy.
In the "original" democracy in Athens, Greece thousands of years ago the voting was not done anonymously. Everybody, and I mean everybody in the city gathered in a stadium-like place and shouted out their votes. Similarly in the New England states they still have "town hall meetings" during which people vote by raising their hands at least on local issues.
Why might this be better? I believe that one reason we get the same slimebag politicians re-elected time after time is because people are willing to do and say in private things that they would be ashamed to do or say in public, such as actually having to raise their hands to vote. In private the decision is often made, apparently, based on things like "He has the same prejudices that I have" or "He may screw the country but he'll save me money". (By the way, beware of presidential candidates that say that they will lower taxes. Presidents do not have that authority. The Congress makes those decisions in keeping with constitutional requirements.)
So, my questions are: 1. Is voting in private necessary for a democracy?, and 2. Would it be better for a democracy if people had to vote publicly, such as by raising their hands at a meeting?
I don't know the answers. I'd be interested to hear some opinions.
Made me wonder whether voting in secret, as has been standard for us for a long time, is really a good thing in general and also whether it is an important part of having a democracy. Lately it looks to me like voting in secret may be destroying our democracy.
In the "original" democracy in Athens, Greece thousands of years ago the voting was not done anonymously. Everybody, and I mean everybody in the city gathered in a stadium-like place and shouted out their votes. Similarly in the New England states they still have "town hall meetings" during which people vote by raising their hands at least on local issues.
Why might this be better? I believe that one reason we get the same slimebag politicians re-elected time after time is because people are willing to do and say in private things that they would be ashamed to do or say in public, such as actually having to raise their hands to vote. In private the decision is often made, apparently, based on things like "He has the same prejudices that I have" or "He may screw the country but he'll save me money". (By the way, beware of presidential candidates that say that they will lower taxes. Presidents do not have that authority. The Congress makes those decisions in keeping with constitutional requirements.)
So, my questions are: 1. Is voting in private necessary for a democracy?, and 2. Would it be better for a democracy if people had to vote publicly, such as by raising their hands at a meeting?
I don't know the answers. I'd be interested to hear some opinions.