| In a true democracy where the Parliament truly | | | | "It had judicial functions in addition to being, as |
| (that is, in a "statistically correct" manner) | | | | representative of the periodic assembly of all |
| represents the people, shouldn't the elections be | | | | citizens, generally responsible for the fiscal |
| carried out by random lottery? | | | | well-being of Athens," Callenbach and Phillips |
| Isn't that the way mathematicians draw a correct | | | | continue. |
| sample from any statistical "population"? Isn't that | | | | "The boule system prevailed for about as long as |
| the way juries are selected in American courts | | | | the American republic has, and lost its power only |
| (although I am aware of the mind-bending | | | | through the growth of a class of specialized |
| machinations that lurk below the orderly surface | | | | officials serving long terms: in modern parlance, a |
| of the jury-selection process). | | | | bureaucracy." [There I disagree since I believe |
| As a matter of fact, once upon a time, about | | | | with Max Weber that a bureaucracy is actually a |
| 2,500 years ago, that's how elections were | | | | manifestation of increasing rationalization of routine |
| carried out in ancient Greece. Everybody could not | | | | processes in a complex market economy, |
| vote, that's one technical detail we have to | | | | although the form itself has been abused and |
| disclose obviously. But those who were eligible to | | | | transmortified (I'm afraid I've just made up that |
| vote were represented correctly through | | | | word) beyond recognition.] |
| "random elections" called "sortition." | | | | "Just as the Athenian boule existed in conjunction |
| In ancient Greece the "boule" or the governing | | | | with the citizen assembly, we may imagine a new |
| council had 500 members chosen by lottery from | | | | direct- representation house of Congress existing |
| the ten "tribes" of Athens to serve one-year | | | | in conjunction with a Senate chosen by traditional |
| terms, according to Ernest Callenbach & | | | | electoral means. The new body we propose to |
| Michael Phillips of the Context Institute. A lot of | | | | call the Representative House." |
| members for a tiny city state, I'd think. But they | | | | Will it happen anytime soon in any country around |
| served for only one year, so that's okay in my | | | | the world? Of course not. But is it worth thinking |
| book. | | | | about? I certainly think so. |