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Third Draft Democracy's avatar

Thanks Gene, very interesting.

Regulatory & legislative capture indeed lie upstream of most of our problems.

(I just wrote a book about this.)

Gene Bellinger's avatar

What's the title?

Third Draft Democracy's avatar

The Mechanics of Changing the World: Political Architecture to Roll Back State & Corporate Power.

Gene Bellinger's avatar

Fascinating, pondering how deliberative democracy's final decisions actually vary from majority rule. Any thoughts?

Third Draft Democracy's avatar

Oh, well "they are generally better" would be the simple version.

E.g. if you're drawing on a diverse set of people you'll get a more informed & balanced decision (diversity trumps specialised expertise).

And where people are involved in making decisions about their own community, those decisions will have much larger public buy-in - not only from the participants but from the public that watches the process.

Gene Bellinger's avatar

Have been reading some thoughts about how the next society might be modeled after a mycelial network with nodes maxed out around the Dunbar number. Much food for thought.

Third Draft Democracy's avatar

Thanks Gene - yes I noted your mycology example.

Yes, our salvation is lies in 'soil chemistry'. (This has not sunk in anywhere. We remain obsessed with individual mushrooms.)

I've always liked the Dunbar Number idea - it seems about right to me, & is perfectly consonant with Third Draft Democracy if that's the way the demos wants to do it.

Ken Shepard's avatar

Gene, your analysis targets are hitting the core of our dilemma and despair. Keep trucking!! Quite effective.

Gene Bellinger's avatar

Appreciate the feedback.