What is wrong with democracy? IT IS TOO SLOW! Majority decisions and
short-term actions are coming too late to prevent wars, ecological disasters etc. The
unbalance grows between a fast economic system and a slow political system. The
communication of will and feelings between people and politicians is too slow. The
removals and elections of representatives are too slow. Democracy is a pretty awful system
- but it can be better by faster reactions, preventing actions and long-term decisions.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997 I suggest to
perform a certain number of social experiments in order to have data for the assessment of
the better form of democracy, if any. So, 10 or 20 communities of no more than 50000
population each should be chosen. These groups have to be located in similar environments,
in other words to live under similar conditions in order to avoid inequalities that could
obscure the drawing of conclusions. Namely similar social classes, similar financial
model, similar educational systems and similar moral values. What will change will be the
model of representation and decision making:by mail, by 20 members parliament, by 500
member parliaments elected by local elections, only by a five members team of experts etc.
After 15-20 years the most functional (in terms of development and prosperity) models
should be tested on a larger scale for 20 years. Finally, after a century the best
political system will be unequivocally proven.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
*Within democracies there is confusion as to whether an elected politician is
supposed to represent or to lead his or her electors.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
During this century western democracies have understandably based their rationale on
the idea that any system other than a democratic one poses a threat which must be resisted
at any cost. This has provided a powerful sense of purpose and evoked strong nationalistic
feelings. With the demise of the Cold War and the apparent disappearance of any real
threat to democracy, politicians and perhaps democracy itself seem to be left without a
purpose, and nationalistic fervour is replaced by indifference and confusion.There is no
longer any clear sense of direction.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
Most people would agree that the purpose of democracy is to uphold individual freedom.
The answer to the question of what individuals should do with this freedom is not provided
by democracy, nor does it ask the question.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
*Rather than look upon the public as potential contributors to the growth and
improvement of the country, political parties provide no channels through which people can
easily submit ideas, and do not invite creative input. Instead each party believes that it
has a monopoly on wisdom. There is no tradition of parties inviting the public to help
solve problems, and to set a precedent would be to invite the accusation that they are
bereft of ideas themselves.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
Party politicking, power brokering, and the all-consuming thrall of the adversarial
system, make it inevitable that we regularly witness the unedifying spectacle of
presumably intelligent people behaving like naughty belligerent school children. In the
current election run-up in the UK, the rival gangs are already sharpening their sticks and
staking out their territory in the playground.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
There is a general confusion as to what is understood by democracy, if in fact people
think about it at all. It is difficult to develop the idea of democracy if there is no
fundamental grasp of the situation as it is now.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
*Voters elect a politician to represent their local interests, but there is
often a conflict between those interests and the interests of the country as a whole. The
fact that this politician may be compelled to make decisions that are not in the immediate
interests of his or her constituents is not taken into account by the voters at the time
of the election, nor is it at any time admitted by the politician.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
In a party political system a government may implement policies which are to the
detriment of the country in order to retain power.Financial incentives are often offered
at election time which cannot in reality be afforded but which will secure votes.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
Democracy encourages those being governed to abdicate responsibility. When you've
elected a representative it becomes his or her responsibility to look after your
interests.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
Public dependency on the media places tremendous power in the hands of the media, who
often have distinct allegiances.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
Politicians, once elected, are compelled to do what is expedient in order to protect
their position and life style. This need overrides the implementation of policies which
would at first be unpopular but which would benefit the country in the long run.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
Although unelected in any way, and unaccountable, the media has the power to affect
radically the course of events.In British politics many prominent personalities have been
forced to resign from office as a result of media pressure.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
The media facilitate a form of political game playing through which politicians skilled
in the use of rhetoric, gesture, evasiveness and techno-babble can manipulate public
opinion.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
An election victory doesn't necessarily mean that the winners can govern the country
any better than the losers. The winning party may simply be better at winning elections.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
First past the post always means that the wishes of a large number of voters are
ignored. So unless you have voted for the winning party you have no voice and must accept
the dictates of a government you don't want.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
*Because party politics forms such a central part of our conception of democracy
we are unable to conceive of a democratic system in which it does not feature. In fact, we
don't believe in the existence of such an alternative.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
In a system with more than two parties, a party which represents less than a majority
of the electorate can gain power.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
*If the perception of politicians is that electors vote against the other
party's mistakes rather than in favour of its virtues, then it is best to have a policy of
doing nothing except to concentrate on exposing the weaknesses and faults of the
opposition.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
As issues affecting society become ever more complex, there is the danger of
politicians oversimplifying these ideas when presenting them to the public. People become
less informed of what is actually going on, and have less and less idea of what the
policies they are asked to vote for actually represent.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
Governments make little or no effort to clearly explain complex issues, often because
their own lack of understanding would be exposed.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
When issues are so complex that there is only one source of expert opinion, parties are
obliged to fight to claim moral custody of the available course of action.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
In the party system there is a danger that expert opinion will be ignored if it
contradicts party policy.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
*Because nobody thinks there is anything better than democracy, there is a
fatalistic and complacent attitude towards the positive evolution of social organization.
We are dissatisfied, but satisfied to remain so.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
The party system is far too crude in its present form to deal with the complexity of
the present and future.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
At best most politicians are generalists, and do not sufficiently understand many of
the complex issues about which they have to make important decisions.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
Change can often only be initiated through the party mechanism. If no party represents
your view you are powerless, unless you are prepared to compromise. People who see the
need for change, and have new ideas, may become apathetic in the face of this.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
Party politics is wasteful in that it does not attract talented, creative people. Such
people need to be able to turn their ideas into reality. They require a climate of
creativity which cannot flourish because the value of ideas and the merit of doing are not
valued as highly as political point scoring and maintaining the status quo.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
*Political parties have no natural channel for the input of those who are
interested in what is wise rather than what is in the interest of the party. Wisdom would
wish to recognize sensible policies whichever party was putting them forward, but the
system does not allow picking and choosing. Politicians must sometimes vote against their
consciences in order to maintain party unity.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
Each party must convince the electorate that it is right, and the usual approach is to
attempt to prove that the other party consists of idiots and deceivers. There is no room
for considering the question of whether both parties might be wrong.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
A system such as democracy, which has the underlying principle that the people choose
the representatives they want and thereby participate in government, is very difficult to
change, since most will see any attempt at change as an attack on that principle.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
The re-education of the public, which could produce a wiser and more discerning
electorate, is not provided for because the ruling party does not see that as being in its
interest.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997
What is wrong with democracy? IT IS TOO FAST! Political decisions are taken too fast.
New correcting decisions are taken very soon. Information about the decisions is poured
over the people via media. People cannot select or understand. Complaints or proposals
from the people are not taken into consideration because of lack of time. Votes are gained
by short-term promises which are not fulfilled. The confidence is decreasing. Democracy is
a pretty awful system - it can be better by better quality and slower rate of decisions
and information.
İThe Author, İEdward de Bono Creative Team 1997 |
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