On Government

Programming an open democracy

[2010-12-04]

As a programmer I'm interested int eh idea of organisational programming. Especially of the kind of organisation that affects our lives the most; government.

For now, this is goignt o be a jumble of ideas, and hopefully I'll get around to organising them later.

First principles

The following two principles underly all aspects of this government and its constitution:

  1. What is good for humanity is good.

  2. What is good for the individual is good for humanity

Open democracy

Democracy is a rather over-used term, but it literally means the rule of the people. If this ideal can be achieved, and the people are in fact able to rule, they can only do so effectively if they are well-informed.

Meritocracy

Any state that succeeds in implementing a stable meritocractic system of government with a high level of popular participation will excel.

Role of the middle class

The middle class does not make the best decisions. They are not always brave. They do not always protect the interests of minorities. They do not always uphold long-term interests over short-term gains. But they are excellent at holding corrupt individuals to account. And they have many, many eyes, which is useful when a lot of things need to be kept in check.

Participation

Achieving, through inspiration at best and obligation at worst, high levels of political and operational participation in the running of the nation, at all levels of society, must be a goal.

National education must raise politically-astute citizens. Any democracy relies on it, and this one is no exception. Citizens must also be rewarded for nation building, although not necessarily with material rewards. Rewards should fit the nature of the completed task. And as an incentive, they should also depreciate over time.

Programming

An organisational system can be programmed like any other system. Here are some examples of ways in which such a system might be programmed using an event-driven object-oriented approach.

Schedules

National parliament is convened for ten months of the year; 1 January to 31 May, and 1 July to 30 November.

National elections are held every five years on the first weekend of June, failing that on the next available weekend.

Events

On the prime minister being unable to perform his/her duties, the minister of domestic affairs will assume his/her duties.

Structures

The nation will comprise of bodies of 64 to 128 individuals, from the lowest level; neighbourhoods, to the highest in the nation; national parliament. Two individuals from each body represents that body in the body above.

A body of residents is a neighbourhood. A body of neighbourhoods is a municipality. A body of municipalities is a metropolitan or a provincial or state council or parliament. A body of metropolitan, provincial or state councils or parliaments is a national parliament.

Metropolitan, provincial or state parliaments may be unicameral.

The national parliament is bicameral. The upper chamber is the House of Councillors. The lower chamber is the House of Representatives. Seats in the House of Councillors are reserved for fields of expertise in the interests of the nation, e.g. economics, medicine, information technology, sociology, etc.

Behaviour

Bodies publish (online and in print) all donations, budgets, and all spending.

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