Is direct democraty possible?
Technology enables the automation of virtually any process. The Internet unites all knowledge and human attention. Technology and logistics have advanced to the point where hunger can be eliminated.
For many, it has long been obvious that most political systems no longer justify themselves. Sooner or later, power grows too large while citizens become insignificant. Truth becomes hidden, and the reasons why we form states have long been forgotten.
Copied from https://free-cities.org/:
"Modern political systems are characterized by perverse incentives for both rulers and the ruled. Rulers are not held accountable and do not suffer economic consequences when they make wrong decisions. The governed are encouraged to believe that, through voting, they can obtain “free” goods. This politicizes the state monopoly on power and leads to constant revisions of the 'social contract.' As a result, there is an ongoing struggle over how to steer these changes in a particular direction."
There is a new form of governance for the future in which every citizen will direct the country’s development. This will be carried out through personal management of one’s tax contributions.
Operations will be executed via a unified state application in which each person will choose how their funds are allocated. Decisions on expenditures will be made once per month.
A 14% tax is allocated as follows:
2% for maintenance of mandatory institutions such as healthcare, education, etc.;
2% must be allocated to nationwide entities of the citizen’s choice — for example, animal control, wildfire prevention, bridge construction;
10% is distributed according to personal preferences. For example: paving the street in front of one’s house; improving a specific nursing home; erecting a monument to a poet in a beloved city; upgrading a particular hospital; funding cancer research; building a telescope; removing garbage near one’s home.
All financial flows will be transparent. Any citizen will have access to information about what and how much is budgeted each month in any region.
After tax allocations are made, requirements will be generated automatically. Independent evaluation organizations will assess the completion of works. The actual works will be carried out by private organizations not owned by the state. Which organization performs a given task will be decided by a process similar to tenders, but with citizens making the selections.
The state application will include a rating of organizations based on citizens’ evaluations. Each person may give positive or negative feedback on how the works related to their tax requests were performed. Over time, these ratings will influence the choice of contractors.
Any citizen may direct their taxes toward anything that constitutes public goods (it is not permitted to direct taxes to oneself).
Within the state application, citizens will compile lists of expenditures at both the national and district levels. Each project will have a forum for discussion and a civic importance rating reflecting public opinion.
This will not determine whether a project is executed, but will help people understand its importance to others and assist them in deciding where to allocate their taxes.
There will be no state apparatus. There will be no people vested with governing authority. The sole state organization will be an IT company responsible for administering state processes.
There will be no military apparatus, no spending on military development, no expenditures on intelligence services, no bureaucrats, no parliament, no chamber, etc.
The 'state' organizations funded by the mandatory 2% tax are: healthcare, police, fire services, emergency rescue (EMERCOM), schools, courts, water and power supply, and multifunctional public service centers (MFC).
If a private organization wins the right to perform the duties of any of the institutions listed above, nothing will prevent it from doing so.
The adoption of new laws will also be accessible to citizens and will be carried out through proposal submission, voting, and incorporation into the legal framework.
Any citizen may oppose something and actively express their position. There will be no state-driven information campaigns or control of opinions.
Anyone may act as an orator, attempting to persuade citizens toward particular decisions — as in ancient Greece, or as Roosevelt did. However, the decision about the course of development you choose for yourself always remains yours alone.
On the one hand, this system requires citizens to assume greater responsibility for their actions and for the country’s future. On the other hand, it will compel people to develop self-awareness, the ability to think critically, and to make sound decisions. It will serve as a reminder that money is merely an equivalent, not an intrinsic value.
This system is designed to reduce wars. If politicians, intoxicated by ambition and power, can unleash wars that their citizens do not need, then under the new system responsibility for deaths will rest on each individual conscience. War becomes a personal matter. Few will be willing to direct their taxes toward causing the deaths of people from their own or another country. This system will force people to seek other, peaceful and mature solutions.
People are capable of much more. We can advance science and technology, improve cities and healthcare, explore space, and care for the planet.
Wars, theft, and greed slow humanity, keep us going in circles, and solve no problems.
Humanity has matured; it is time to move to a new level. Direct democracy — which is often discussed — is possible, but it has not yet...