3.3. Software Democracy
Ideas
- Men are easily corruptible; the political system should be designed accordingly.
- A computer program is incorruptible: everything that can be programmed is protected from corruption and lies.
- The Constitution must be adapted to the duality of the physical/virtual world.
- Citizens always have the final say through voting.
- Drawing lots for representatives and limiting terms of office limit political careerism.
Limit corruption
Once the fundamental rights have been established, we must acknowledge that even in the best environments, human nature is weak and corruptible, greedy for power and wealth.
A healthy political system must therefore take this natural tendency into account and strictly limit the scope and duration of individual powers. This is one of the objectives of Software Democracy, which deploys tools that protect citizens from the abuse of power by their representatives.
Let's see here by what means Software Democracy protects against abuse of power and corruption.
Code is incorruptible
Programming democracy will give it all the qualities of an open-source software:
- it will become incorruptible.
- it will be auditable and improvable.
- it cannot drift or lead to excessive power.
The preferences or power of a person cannot go against the code of Software Democracy. Its modification will necessarily pass through public debate and voting.
The Open Source aspect is essential in the Code that will execute Software Democracy. It will allow the best experts to monitor it constantly, to ensure that it conforms to the set objectives, and to ensure its maintainability.
New Foundational Texts are Required
A new Universal Declaration of Human Rights and new Constitutions are required to articulate the founding ideas of Software Democracy.
They are necessary because:
- The definition of a human is challenged by advancements in artificial intelligence and transhumanism. It needs to be refined.
- The current texts do not account for the physical / digital duality of our new world, to which human rights must adapt.
- Current constitutions do not consider the possibility of encoding rules into the Code, and thus making Code the natural extension of the Constitution.
The drafting of the Constitutions is collective and evolutionary, subject to the voting of citizens. This vote is one of the first exercises of the transition. The Constitution, by extension, becomes the "General Terms of Use" for the digital democracy tools, and studying it is the foundation for the education of citizens.
Systematic voting
Software Democracy organizes systematic voting. The subjects of the votes will be initiated by Citizen's initiative referendum or their representatives.
When necessary, the subjects submitted to the vote will be the subject of a temporary commission held by citizens randomly drawn, who will create a file presenting the stakes of the proposal.
The establishment of a democracy as direct as possible is one of the most powerful possibilities offered by the internet and a key to Software Democracy; it allows for the legislative power and control of institutions to be given to citizens.
Drawing of lots
Whenever possible, representatives of the state will be selected by random draw to perform their assigned tasks.
This allows any citizen to participate in the governance of the Software Democracy. The selected representative must be willing to serve the community, be monitored in their function, and complete the mission charged to them by the people.
The random draw can be limited to a group of qualified and willing candidates. This ensures a level of arbitrariness in the selection of representatives while maintaining a high level of motivation when a significant personal commitment is required.
Term Limits
There is no profession of "politician." The selected or randomly drawn representatives serve their term and then return to being simple citizens.
They may again serve the state by submitting an application for other roles, but never in the same position or in circumstances that would create a risk of abuse of power or conflict of interest.
Similarly, a citizen engaged in a term cannot participate in any other representation or commission activities.
Freedom of Speech and Participation in Public Life
Every citizen is free to express their opinion, propose laws or modifications to existing texts. Access to the media and public debate is open to all, free and uncensored.
This freedom of opinion and speech applies to individuals, organizations, and parties.
Independence of the Media
The media can operate independently of political or economic circles.
When this is not the case, their financing and conflicts of interest of the authors must be systematically disclosed.
Quotes
Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Lord Acton
Power is not a means, it is an end in itself.
George Orwell