The myth is that a new government, like the left wing government of Greece, is responsible for the free-spending non-tax-collecting Debt of a prior right wing government.

Let the German banks suffer. They knew the risks: or should have.

A democracy that is like a lottery or jury duty.

Right, because juries make such rational and just decisions.

they feared their credit cards and bank accounts would be hacked by activists

Idiotic. If they could do that, there would be no 1% to begin with!

Sadly, have to agree with seandr @4 there.

If you've never been on a jury before, you think they dispense justice, but they actually are just as flawed and unjust as the society you live in.

@4 & @6 have you looked at Congress lately?

Not that a jury or a jury-like Congress by lottery would be perfect. The main problem (which is also the main problem with Congress now) is, how do we hold lawmakers accountable for the outcome of their actions?

At the very least, a parliamentary system is vastly superior to what we now have. No filibusters, one chamber. Let the ruling party rule unfettered, until the next election, when the voters can reward or punish them for their choices.

Regardless, something needs to change. Our government in its current form is unsuited to the challenges of our time.

I think the jury duty comparison was more about framing a democracy as civically participatory than it was a direct comparison to the way juries currently function.

There is something somewhat elegant about the idea that a society trusts itself and its members to decide matters of justice, however flawed the administration of that justice is. I don't think applying the same concept to civic decision making (compel and trust society to decide) is that terrible an idea, particularly given how atrocious our current house/senate process is.

Democratizing democracy a little more can't be all bad, right?

@7 I don't see you running.

The only problem is we need more liberals in office. Only liberals are just and fiscally responsible.

Frankly, I don't see a solution to our political woes until, as is elucidated in certain Cyber-Punk media, the issue of the fundamental unit of government, the individual, is addressed according to its failings, weaknesses, and drawbacks. No political theory or system is going to make the world a better place. Only a post-human civilization can improve (or worsen) our current state of affairs.

Additionally, Prometheus Bound is an extremely important work of theater, one that is fairly much unknown to anyone aside from scholars. It should become canonical reading in grade-school.

Another dispatch from Chuckie's 'I read a book and now I need everyone to know I can read so I'll build a whole post around psuedo-intellectual masturbation so that people will know at least one Zimbabwean is literate' file.

Our system fails in the presence of corruption it can't prevent and rules it can't (or doesn't) enforce. Of course, eliminate the malintent from any system, and it will benefit all equitably and efficiently...damnable human condition.

A democracy that is like a lottery ...

Between the Casino Economy and Citizens United, we sorta got that now, don't we?

Too boring; did not watch.