Talk about coincidence, I finished reading that article about nation right now ;) Also, bottom up is probably not a good word for what I have in mind (peer-to-peer network, hence no vertical hierarchy to speak of, and no bottom or top).
So, back to TDG — there are two things that immediately strike me:
- one could implement that model simply by eliminating the congress, parliament, or what have you, and leaving only the structure of local governments (it would be almost identical, and where I’m from you don’t have to be a member of political party to participate and be elected into city or regional assembly, become mayor or governor)
- I think the concept of nation is dated and if we hope to operate as a planetary species we must abandon it (but this is a minor concern for now).
I think, however, there is one fatal flaw to TDG:
As the political world and general citizenry interact more with the maturing TDG, many citizens will start seeing the TDG as a source of wisdom and collaborative decision-making because it is bereft of the 12 limitations of political parties. When it becomes apparent to a significant minority of citizens that the maturing TDG will eventually replace the western democratic model, the maturing TDG has evolved into the “TDG-in-waiting.”
Since before replacement, TDG won’t have any executive power, there won’t be a way for citizens to see how much more effective TDG is in comparison to the current model.
I have my doubts that congressmen, etc. will use TDG as some advisory body, if they are to be replaced because of their ambitious, unvirtuous natures. They will more likely perceive it as a threat to their livelihood and treat it as such. You have to have an open minded politician in the standard structure to begin with, but then the point of TDG is moot.
Yes, it may happen that someone somewhere successfully implements it and it suddenly gains traction (in the vein of, “Look at our neighbors! Let’s try that, too.”), but that’s essentially a gamble, not a plan.
As I see it, the problem is not just the political parties, but the system itself, that allows one to be a career politician. If TDG evolves into such behemoth, all its advantages are lost. Also, if the underlying economy does not change and money will have to be involved in running a TDG, it further deepens my doubt (I addressed this concern in my previous post).
Or did I miss something substantial?
All in all, with “enlightened” society you can run (almost) any system you want and it would be fair, and even the Smith’s “invisible hand” would work. Otherwise we are bound to repeat the same mistakes over and over again.
