Back in 2008, Google organized a conceptual contest named "Project 10^100". The primary goal of the project was to select ideas that are capable of changing the world on a global scale. The period of the change had to be 2 years, so the idea needed to be radical and yet plausible. I was thinking that inventing something completely new could be a waste of time, as nothing new unless it is a true breakthrough is capable of achieving anything in such a short period of time, so the only way was to radically change something already in works on a global scale. So, I thought of democracy. Why not? It's the old system with long, rusty roots, almost unchanged in past millennium and more and I finally submitted the idea that would eventually get rid of politicians by using a voting system that would replace parliaments with the technology and politicians with ordinary people.
Anyway, here is the RDS idea of mine exactly the same as submitted back in 2008. I am sure, one way or another, it will be the future of democracy. At least I don't see how it could be different.
Real Democracy System
original text
What one sentence best describes your idea?
Real Democracy System is the next step in the evolution of the democracy system, providing people direct access in the process of creating rules of living.
Describe your idea in more depth.
The democracy system as we know it today didn’t evolve much since ancient Greece, where it was first implemented. Basically, it allows people to vote approximately every 4 years or so in order to elect men and women who then act as representatives of the voters in community parliaments.
The "Real Democracy System" skips the step of voting for parliaments. In the "Real Democracy System" parliaments will no longer be necessary. In the "Real Democracy System" all people able to vote will be members of the system, where they will be asked for every decision that has to be made by the elected establishment.
The technology required for the "Real Democracy System" depends on several electronic systems that already exist in almost every country worldwide.
The first step is to replace ID cards people use today with new e-ID cards. The physical size of e-ID will be the same as today’s IDs or credit cards, probably a little thicker because of new embedded features. The e-ID card will have an electronic chip with all the public data of the owner, an e-paper screen that will receive text information about incoming votes, and fingerprint sensors that will be used for voting itself. e-ID cards will be using mobile networks already present worldwide to connect to the voting system.
After public debate finishes in the media, people will vote for every single law proposed by the authorities, such as local or state governments.
What problem or issue does your idea address?
Main problems of today’s democracy system is slowness of issuing laws, extremely big establishment of political organizations worldwide, low number of real experts involved in the process, unnecessary bureaucracy, not enough transparency, big cost of maintaining existing system of voting, expensive politicians’ needs, equipment, communications, etc.
This new system will also provide evolution of the political system itself since there will be no parliaments anymore, and voters will be able to vote for a human expert instead of a political party, meaning separate elections could be organized relatively easily for different positions, such as elections for the ministry of defense, treasure, agriculture, health, etc. The principle will be the same for mayor elections or the election of the UN chairman; only a different group of voters will be involved.
If your idea were to become a reality, who would benefit the most and how?
In one sentence: People worldwide would benefit from the "Real Democracy System".
Primarily, all people will be actively involved in the system of making rules in their own local communities, their counties, states of residence and larger organizations such as EU, UN etc.
Secondly, the cost of the whole system will be much less since, in time, parliaments will cease to exist and politicians as a community will be reduced. Governments will be more filled with real experts in their fields (i.e., during debates, voters will be asking and evaluating more candidate CVs instead of political qualification)
What are the initial steps required to get this idea off the ground?
All technical equipment and systems required are already present and can be installed and used in a small amount of time, such as electronics, communications, and computer systems.
However, in order to spread this system worldwide, it requires some training and education of people to be initially performed. It is advisable to be presented manly in the highly educated communities first at the local level, such as in mayor elections or municipality systems, and after that proceed to higher levels, such as county/state elections or widely such as the UN system.
Additionally, this system should be used in parallel with the actual system for some time, where the people will more clearly learn the advantages of the new system.
Describe the optimal outcome should your idea be selected and successfully implemented. How would you measure it?
Measuring the value of the system will be as obvious as its spreading worldwide. Every single voter will be affected and be more involved in the society and more secure, and it will be low cost compared to the existing system. There will be fewer or no wars worldwide, and based on the commercial use of the system, companies will have more feedback for their services or products.
The "Real Democracy System" could also be self-maintained by the fact that it can be used for commercial purposes such as market research or performing any opinion polls, and it can be performed on a selected number of people.
Real Democracy System
October 5th, 2008.
Anyway, here is the RDS idea of mine exactly the same as submitted back in 2008. I am sure, one way or another, it will be the future of democracy. At least I don't see how it could be different.
Real Democracy System
original text
What one sentence best describes your idea?
Real Democracy System is the next step in the evolution of the democracy system, providing people direct access in the process of creating rules of living.
Describe your idea in more depth.
The democracy system as we know it today didn’t evolve much since ancient Greece, where it was first implemented. Basically, it allows people to vote approximately every 4 years or so in order to elect men and women who then act as representatives of the voters in community parliaments.
The "Real Democracy System" skips the step of voting for parliaments. In the "Real Democracy System" parliaments will no longer be necessary. In the "Real Democracy System" all people able to vote will be members of the system, where they will be asked for every decision that has to be made by the elected establishment.
The technology required for the "Real Democracy System" depends on several electronic systems that already exist in almost every country worldwide.
The first step is to replace ID cards people use today with new e-ID cards. The physical size of e-ID will be the same as today’s IDs or credit cards, probably a little thicker because of new embedded features. The e-ID card will have an electronic chip with all the public data of the owner, an e-paper screen that will receive text information about incoming votes, and fingerprint sensors that will be used for voting itself. e-ID cards will be using mobile networks already present worldwide to connect to the voting system.
After public debate finishes in the media, people will vote for every single law proposed by the authorities, such as local or state governments.
What problem or issue does your idea address?
Main problems of today’s democracy system is slowness of issuing laws, extremely big establishment of political organizations worldwide, low number of real experts involved in the process, unnecessary bureaucracy, not enough transparency, big cost of maintaining existing system of voting, expensive politicians’ needs, equipment, communications, etc.
This new system will also provide evolution of the political system itself since there will be no parliaments anymore, and voters will be able to vote for a human expert instead of a political party, meaning separate elections could be organized relatively easily for different positions, such as elections for the ministry of defense, treasure, agriculture, health, etc. The principle will be the same for mayor elections or the election of the UN chairman; only a different group of voters will be involved.
If your idea were to become a reality, who would benefit the most and how?
In one sentence: People worldwide would benefit from the "Real Democracy System".
Primarily, all people will be actively involved in the system of making rules in their own local communities, their counties, states of residence and larger organizations such as EU, UN etc.
Secondly, the cost of the whole system will be much less since, in time, parliaments will cease to exist and politicians as a community will be reduced. Governments will be more filled with real experts in their fields (i.e., during debates, voters will be asking and evaluating more candidate CVs instead of political qualification)
What are the initial steps required to get this idea off the ground?
All technical equipment and systems required are already present and can be installed and used in a small amount of time, such as electronics, communications, and computer systems.
However, in order to spread this system worldwide, it requires some training and education of people to be initially performed. It is advisable to be presented manly in the highly educated communities first at the local level, such as in mayor elections or municipality systems, and after that proceed to higher levels, such as county/state elections or widely such as the UN system.
Additionally, this system should be used in parallel with the actual system for some time, where the people will more clearly learn the advantages of the new system.
Describe the optimal outcome should your idea be selected and successfully implemented. How would you measure it?
Measuring the value of the system will be as obvious as its spreading worldwide. Every single voter will be affected and be more involved in the society and more secure, and it will be low cost compared to the existing system. There will be fewer or no wars worldwide, and based on the commercial use of the system, companies will have more feedback for their services or products.
The "Real Democracy System" could also be self-maintained by the fact that it can be used for commercial purposes such as market research or performing any opinion polls, and it can be performed on a selected number of people.
Real Democracy System
October 5th, 2008.