jmg@houxk.UUCP (09/01/83)
I would like to propose an experiment in democracy or as someone called it "electronic democracy" (not my description) utilizing the net. I ask for your cooperation in making this experiment work. For the purposes of the experiment assume the following: 1. everyone on the net is a citizen of the U.S. 2. a constitutional ammendment has passed which will gradually transfer all the powers of the congress to the citizens of the U.S. 3. all citizens have a box attached to their phone which enables them to vote on public questions (for those who don't have a phone, facilities are provided at the nearest firehouse or other public building). 4. the clerical functions peripheral to the lawmaking process are still handled by the congressional pages and congressional staffs using a computer system. 5. Every law passed by the electorate supercedes previous laws passed by congress. 6. Any law not superceded naturally remains in effect. 7. the president, the judiciary and the rest of the government bureaucracy continue to operate as in the past with the same relationships toward the electorate as they previously had with the congress. The first order of business is to organize an agenda. The subscribers on the net will submit proposed topics such as auto safety, air pollution or foreign aid to me by mail or post them on the net. After the topics have been received they will be posted on the net for a vote on priority of business. After that vote proposals will be accepted for items of legislation on that topic. When a piece of legislation has been composed it will be submitted for a vote of the electorate. I hope that this experiment can be carried out in an intelligent and serious manner and I hope to hear from you all soon. Joe McGhee