“Down & Dirty” Response Videos
Are the cuts seamless? Is the audio flawless? Do I trip over my tongue once or or twice? Doesn’t matter! For this “Down & Dirty” series the point is to write, record, edit and post all on the same day. Comments? DemocracyStraightUp@gmail.com
I recently discovered that Roger Abbiss, Founder of Occupy Earth, feels the same urgency I do when it comes to transforming the political system into something that works for the people--not just in the US, but everywhere. One thing we are both concerned about is the 'The AI Menace.' Nothing against AI which is a very useful tool, but in the hands of the powerful--yikes! As he sees it, the only way we are going to gain control of AI is through an 'uprising' of the people. I agree! Only I argue that this uprising must take the form of the voters seizing control of their seat (legally, peacefully) in every legacy legislature here in the US and around the world. Also, we here at the project have found a low-friction, practical and executable approach to making that happen. Check them out at: occupyearth.org
Self-Determination Theory is a multidisciplinary, academically rigorous theory of human motivation that examines how autonomy, competence, and human connection shape individual behavior and social systems. There is a Florida-based institute with satellites in the US and abroad, and it boasts an impressive collection of academics and intellectuals. And what did I decide to do? Jump right in, of course! And appropiate their theory to legitimize Straight-Up Democracy, the Direct Revolution, and putting the voters in charge of self-government from soup to nuts! Hey, I can hold my own! I have a Master's degree in Sociology! (You have my permission to be impressed.) Also, say the phrase "in an irrevocable proxy" ten times fast before you judge me! Check it out at: selfdeterminationtheory.org
In this Episode, I am taking on Jon Alexander's ambitious work on constructing the theoretical foundations for a culture of 'citizen politics.' I conclude (not unsurprisingly, if you know me!) that ideation and publication followed by slow percolation throughout the culture will not get us to what should be our singular goal! Put the voters in charge! I also explain what 'rake face' is. (Science is searching for a cure, but the answers are elusive...perhaps because it primarily afflicts cartoon characters.)
Our Website straightupdemocracy.org
Jon Alexander: A Citizen Manifesto: Towards a Politics of Participation | BYU Kennedy Center
Jon Alexander's Book: Citizens: Why the Key to Fixing Everything is All of US
This is a response to an interview on The Ezra Klein Show, available on the NYT website. In it, political scientist Lee Drutman puts forward the correct analysis: that gerrymandering undermines the will of the voters to the detriment of democracy, and that proportional voting would render gerrymandering useless. I take him to task, however, on charting a course towards proportional representation that is wildly unrealistic. I contrast his approach with how Straight-Up Democracy leads to proportional representation as a natural consequence of putting the voters in charge.