Emotions, Elections and Citizens’ Assemblies
If you haven’t already read the article The Metaverse vs. Democracy, please take a look before continuing–everything will make a lot more sense.
Elections will not, in their current form, survive the metaverse. Citizens’ assemblies are the answer. They are a way to solve the big issues facing our country in a way that diminishes the effect of emotions.
Think about the issue of abortion. What would elections be like if the abortion issue were solved and 65% of the country accepted the outcome? That is what happened in the Republic of Ireland. What would our country be like if, like Ireland, abortion and 10 other issues facing our country were not only solved, but the solution was widely accepted? Citizens’ assemblies can do exactly that.
Citizens’ assemblies have been used hundreds of times around the world and have a set of well-defined traits that insure impartiality and integrity, including:
- Citizens’ assemblies are generally commissioned to solve one issue.
- Panelists for the citizens’ assembly are selected by democratic lottery and are a representative microcosm of the general public.
- Panelists generally serve for one assembly, i.e. they are disbanded at the conclusion of the assembly. There are no career panelists!
- The assembly has access to a wide range of accurate and relevant evidence from experts and stakeholders.
- Panelists deliberate to find common ground for their collective recommendations.
- A citizens’ assembly is managed by impartial moderators who create the conditions that promote discussion, reflection and resolution.
- The entire process is transparent, yet the privacy of panelists is protected.
Citizens’ assemblies are the place where informed public judgement occurs. Panelists study the issues in an environment that fosters learning, contemplation and resolution of the issues. The legislative and referendum processes seldom come close to informed public judgement. Nonetheless, it is rare for citizens’ assemblies to make the final decision on issues and are generally limited to making recommendations to legislative bodies and referendums.
The use of citizens’ assemblies in the Republic of Ireland show that they work in situations like ours. This video explores the abortion issue in Ireland and how the citizens’ assembly was an integral part of the solution. Note that after the video was produced Ireland passed a referendum on abortion that was supported by 65% of the citizens.
What can you do help?
- Talk about the article and citizens’ assemblies to friends and on social media.
- Contact your Member of Congress.
- Think about the people you know who have a connection to power. Educate them and recruit them to the cause with an eye towards promoting the use of a citizens’ assembly to solve a local or state issue. Our organization can help you do this.
- Use your professional megaphone to speak about the problem, ethics and professional responsibility in areas like technology, social media, investing and the election industry.
- Redirect election donations to organizations that could fix the framework of elections.
- And get involved in Democracy Without Elections!