StrypeyJul 20, 2023

"If you're only prepared to make popular decisions as a leader though, then what is the point of leadership? It's not really leadership is it. It's just focus-grouping. It's just polling. Instead of laying out a platform, debating its merits, and pursuing a really distinct vision, you might as well just have a smartphone app or a website, on which everyone votes for every little policy."

#JakeTame, 2023

Quoted in Midweek #MediaWatch on #RNZ:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/2018898749/midweek-mediawatch-too-much-information-too-soon

#NZPolitics #leadership

Midweek Mediawatch - too much information too soon?

Midweek Mediawatch - Colin Peacock talks to Mark Leishman about intense coverage of a mother accused of killing her children - and the media finally covering the crimes of Sir James Wallace. Also: Tova O’Brien returning to the media as some senior news editors depart; the media response to the PM ruling out wealth taxes - and the tabloid scoop giving the BBC a big headache.

RNZ
Show threadStrypeyJul 20, 2023

> a smartphone app or a website, on which everyone votes for every little policy

Sounds good to me. We could eliminate an expensive layer of besuited spokesmodels and PR spindoctors, who provide no real value to anyone but themselves. Instead, public servants could carry out whatever policies get a supermajority in a weekly of monthly batch of digital referenda.

#LiquidFeedback anyone?

Show threadLea de Groot TZ+10Jul 20, 2023
@strypey but you might like this guy
https://dicksonreps.jigsy.com/thor-prohaska
I _believe_ he has actually written the software to do what you are describing
Thor Prohaska

Show threadStrypeyJul 20, 2023

@leadegroot
> the software to do what you are describing

A whole bunch of digital decision-making software was written over the last decade, by groups inspired by Occupy (eg Loomio, DemocracyOS). Also for use in the Pirate Party moment, such as LiquidFeedback. One cool thing about LF is that it allows you to nominate someone to proxy vote for you. Either in general, or by portfolio (your proxy on transport issues to one person, on conservation issues to someone else).

Show threadLea de Groot TZ+10
@strypey
> nominate someone to proxy vote for you
ah, now that is getting more like what I was thinking of! :)
Jul 20, 2023 at 2:31amWeb
Show threadLife is TetrisJul 20, 2023
@leadegroot @strypey
> proxy vote for portfolio of issues
There is an algorithmic alternative based on pairwise choice, which interested me.
https://allourideas.org/
Threw up interesting patterns (just a few people voted)
All Our Ideas - Bringing survey research into the digital age

All Our Ideas is a platform that enables groups to collect and prioritize ideas in a transparent, democratic, and bottom-up way. It’s a suggestion box for the digital age.

All Our Ideas
Show threadStrypeyJul 20, 2023

@tetrislife
> There is an algorithmic alternative based on pairwise choice

I'm not familiar with "pairwise choice" but I'll have a look. I like what g0v did with Pol.is for vTaiwan too. So many intriguing models out there to learn from.

@leadegroot