Re: [aso-policy] Re: IP address holders - are they represented?

["!Dr. Joe Baptista" <baptista@pccf.net>]

On Tue, 14 Mar 2000, Phil Pennock wrote:

> Check the fortune(6) database for the US Army Manual entry 2000-25
> (IIRC) which is a 'definition' of democracy.  It was in the manual from
> 1928 to 1932.  It quickly degenerates into what is effectively a
> definition of mobocracy.

This argument has little application.  Democracy is not defined by a US
army manual.  If you want to be esoteric then the definition depends
entirely on the perception of democratic rights by the world population,
which does not include the US Army Manual.

> By all means, push for universal suffrage.  However, I for one would
> certain appreciate it if you design into your proposals protection
> against someone with media power deciding to campaign to get as many
> people as possible to "click this button on this web-page" without
> understanding what they're doing.  Otherwise, you'll quickly get a
> situation where a few institutions can manipulate the results and then
> force changes through on the basis of it being "the will of the
> electorate".

I agree - that is a problem with Universal Suffrage - and that problem is
satisfied with an educational process.  If your constituent don't
understand the issues, then it is critical to educate and inform them, and
not dismiss them as being too ignorant to even bother.

Regards
Joe Baptista

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