Let the People Rule: How Direct Democracy Can Meet the Populist Challenge - John G. Matsusaka

This post has 10 comments

• 
  oljimmy
  January 11th, 2023
  

  “Taking lessons from failed processes like Brexit, he also describes what issues are best suited to referendums and how they should be designed…”

  Ah, so it’s direct democracy, except for when it spits out decisions I personally don’t like, in which case the process was “flawed”.

  Whoever wrote this blurb needs to look up what a democratic culture actually is; first and foremost, it is a culture filled with people willing to accept the results of a democratic process even if they disagree with it.

  Let the People Rule: How Direct Democracy Can Meet the Populist Challenge - John G. Matsusaka
• 
  erouting
  January 11th, 2023
  

  @oljimmy

  Well said. No notes.

  Let the People Rule: How Direct Democracy Can Meet the Populist Challenge - John G. Matsusaka
• 
  Fusillade
  January 11th, 2023
  

  “while democratic governments have become more efficient”

  American government was designed to be clunky, not “efficient.” That is how we have been protected from the mob.

  If you want efficient government, look to the French Revolution… chop chop!

  Let the People Rule: How Direct Democracy Can Meet the Populist Challenge - John G. Matsusaka
• 
  caesar963
  January 11th, 2023
  

  On Brexit: what was required, & what was sorely lacking, was an informed electorate (& conversance with the referendum process - specifically, it’s not just for protest votes on a diverse range of subjects - whatever the voter is upset about at the time - it’s about a particular area of political/constitutional concern).

  The day after the vote, when it was confirmed UK was to leave, the British piled on to google to ask “What is the EU?” & “What is Brexit?” It’d bring a tear to a glass eye.

  British politicians were actually telling voters that they could all get Irish passports in any event, to avail of freedom of movement. So there was no downside to a no vote. The confusion here is that there is a common travel agreement betw Ireland & the UK (predating both states each joining the EU), but the amount of people entitled to apply for an Irish passport is, of course, strictly limited (as with all passports - residence & heritage qualifications).

  British politicians also claimed that Brexit would give Britain an extra £350 million a week to spend on the NHS. An obvious lie. Afterwards, when it was known generally that this had been a manifest lie, BoJo went full BoJo & doubled down, ass-erting that £350 million had been “an understatement.”

  Thea reality was that, regions like Wales - the poorest region in Europe - were receiving structural funding from the EU. Now all of the UK is dependent upon the the City of London (financial services sector) - & receiving subventions therefrom.

  Err in haste, repent at leisure.

  (Also, direct democracy only really works in small villages & clubs.)

  Let the People Rule: How Direct Democracy Can Meet the Populist Challenge - John G. Matsusaka
• 
  caesar963
  January 12th, 2023
  

  Definitely havin’ trouble with my definite articles again. Oh well, I’ll repent @ leisure…

  Let the People Rule: How Direct Democracy Can Meet the Populist Challenge - John G. Matsusaka
• 
  dave5050j
  January 12th, 2023
  

  Well stated @ceasar963!

  Let the People Rule: How Direct Democracy Can Meet the Populist Challenge - John G. Matsusaka
• 
  royalq
  January 15th, 2023
  

  This is a great book so far. The most detailed account of how that administrative state arose that I have heard so far. Very informative and clearly written. Still listening - it’s long!

  Let the People Rule: How Direct Democracy Can Meet the Populist Challenge - John G. Matsusaka
• 
  Bytbiter
  January 21st, 2023
  

  Defuse, not diffuse. If the author can’t even get that right …

  If you want an example much older than Brexit, read up about Alcibiades. The mob have always been emotionally driven and easily manipulated.

  Let the People Rule: How Direct Democracy Can Meet the Populist Challenge - John G. Matsusaka
• 
  Jaymes420
  February 6th, 2023
  

  if America let “The people rule”, the country would break out in a race war in 12 months headed up by people who think Qanon is real lmao

  Let the People Rule: How Direct Democracy Can Meet the Populist Challenge - John G. Matsusaka
• 
  SantaFe32
  March 7th, 2024
  

  Fusillade nailed it.
  “direct democracy” is what Plato was referring to when he talks about democracies in Republic. It is the rule of the mob.

  Let the People Rule: How Direct Democracy Can Meet the Populist Challenge - John G. Matsusaka

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