• Allero@lemmy.today
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      6 months ago

      Many countries actually have such systems in place today, even Russia (lol) - not that they work too well.

      Normally, there are two sources of issues here: petitions can in fact be declined, and, in cases where the signature count depends on scale of the petition they can be intentionally escalated as to make it impossible to gain enough signatures. Besides, in many cases petitions can be left unanswered for longer than promised.

      Long story short, the system is open to shenanigans and doesn’t make the government truly accountable.

      We need the system that would actually make politicians rapidly lose their jobs when they ignore public opinion.

      • brbposting@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        6 months ago

        Good detailed response :)

        make politicians rapidly lose their jobs when they ignore public opinion.

        Under such conditions, would the US have ended slavery or enacted the Civil Rights Act?

        • Allero@lemmy.today
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          6 months ago

          Completely depends on who is allowed to vote.

          If slaves would have a vote, they’d certainly strongly choose one option :D

          Same for the discriminated groups.

          If they don’t have a vote, this depends on the rest of society in the short run, but can cause violent rebellions in the long one. Democratic system does not eliminate possibility of revolt.