I strongly believe that democracy is not the optimum way of choosing a government. No – I do not have a viable alternative, but the evidence suggests that there should be a better way of determining who is fit to govern.
Consider the following – I pay a very large amount of tax every month – the marginal rate is 40%, and the effective rate not a hell of a lot lower. In return for this I get:
- Infrastructure – but without any service level agreement (meaning that the roads are often bad, electricity supply is sometimes erratic and broadband internet is very expensive)
- Security – policing, and protection from the enemies of … the state ?! (Something smells about that last statement). But of course no service level agreement in terms of security either. (South-African taxpayers will be able to attest to this lack of an SLA).
- The right to vote
- The right to be protected by a constitution … pretty similar to the second point, in effect.
- Not much else, except the assurance that the politicians know more than I do, and are always acting in my best interest.
I have a proposition for my government (and yours, too). In this, the twentieth century, the most hallowed right in a democracy is the right to vote. I therefore propose this:
I will sell my right to vote to you. In return I want a flat tax rate of 15% on my income (still more than double what one would pay in Singapore, by the way). I want guarantees of home, family and personal security (with well-defined financial penalties to the government if these are not provided). I should continue to be recognised as a legal person by the constitution, and enjoy every right of every other citizen, except the right to vote. I want to be exempt from all “national” endeavours – such as conscription. I want a life-time guarantee for these rights.
Consider carefully dear government – I will willingly give to you the single thing you tell me is most dear to all your citizens. I will even continue paying you for services, but in the framework of a well-defined contract.
Can you, as government, survive if you have to deal with us, your citizens, as business partners rather than emotionally manipulated patriots ?
I’m waiting for your call.
5 responses so far ↓
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2 Rick Tonoli // Oct 2, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Here’s an interesting thought, how about we choose NO government? I look forward to a (hopeful) future where the need for government becomes obsolete and people shake off their childhood indoctrination to have an authority figure rule them with fear and intimidation and reject politicians for the crazy-fear-mongering-control-freak thieves that they are.
Ah, the sweet smell of Anarchy in the morning…
3 Rick Tonoli // Oct 2, 2009 at 10:37 pm
… however your option sounds more plausible
4 JvN // Oct 3, 2009 at 8:13 am
@Rick – but that sweet smell is very tempting.
5 Jorgen // Sep 22, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Speaking of anarchism… You may want to read the Rights of Man (by Thomas Paine) when you got some time. There are many things governments do ‘on behalf of the people’ which ‘the people’ frown upon but can do nothing about.
A local example would be the Scorpions task force: fighting white collar crime means improving systems enabling the government to become more efficient at tax evasion/collection. But when this accidentally brings things to light that goes against the agenda of those that are profiting in background, the task force suddenly gets dissolved. Even if the entire country votes they should stay (which I’m almost sure everyone would have if they had the opportunity), the unit still got dissolved. What does that tell us about those that run the country. Now we have a new task force, collared like a dog perhaps, but not as effective as they could be, reporting to and under the supervision of, those they may one day have to investigate.
I’d prefer if our government, officials and systems, could be audited on a 3 or 4 year basis, so we can actually *see* how much of our taxes actually go to infrastructure, etc. Two or three auditing firms reporting back should eliminate or highlight discrepancies and problem area’s. Hiking in northern Thailand I met a guy from New Zealand and we started discussing (of all things) Democracy. He tells me that in their country the winning party has to deliver on 3 out of 5 of its promises during each election period. If it doesn’t, it has to explain on live TV why it failed to deliver. Now that would be a step forward, even if just to see the representative skwirm while being asked difficult questions.
At Rick Tonoli – I especially like this quote:
“Our government teaches the whole people by its example. If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy.†– American Supreme Court Justice – Louis Brandeis
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