Democracy training

1. Democracy training Because “it’s democratic” doesn’t mean it’s a good idea

2. Why do we like Democracy? – Intrinsic reasons 1: Self-ownership – individuals have a right to pursue future as they see fit. Democracy is the only political decision-maker to achieve this. 2:Creates (theoretical) equality of citizenship – perhaps a concern governments should have. • These are reasons we might prefer democracy EVEN when it makes worse choices as a result • Things to think about – giving more votes to certain types of people, ability to hold office etc.

3. Instrumental 1 – aggregate of preference • Competing preferences exist in what we want the government to do • If everyone (or as many as possible) have a say – this should manifest in a government that acts in the most agreeable way to most people • BUT given we have political parties governing for large periods of time with an agenda is this possible • Do certain preferences get more loudly heard (is this down to being able to fund campaigns)

4. Instrumental 2 – public deliberation • Policies tend to be discussed in the public eye • This means that everyone has fair input to highlight failings and strengths of a policy • The deliberation leads to the removal of bad policy and the retention of good policy that wins the debate • BUT policy often manifests different ideological starting points • Tribalism can also mean that policy is not really considered properly thinking there’s an ideological dispute

5. Instrumental 3 – legitimacy seen • Most policy choices depend on some level of buy-in. • The more “democratic” a policy seems the more buy-in you’re likely to get • Limiting the amount people can donate to parties may not actually have an affect on policy or ideology or anything but it does remove a perception barrier

6. Democracy is captured by interest groups • Wealthy groups & organisations have disproportionate power • Media outlets tend to have political agendas skewing the information that can be received • It is very hard for a party to go against its financial backers – see the fallout of Miliband vs. the Unions • These financial backers are often suspected of driving politics – see things like failure to enact banking regulation

7. Median voter theorem • Political parties ultimately want to be elected • Political opinion in the public exists roughly on a bell curve of “left”-”right” • It makes sense to go as close to the centre as possible assuming 2 dominant parties to capture as many of those votes either side

8. Legitimate purview of democracy • We don’t believe that some choices should be in the hands of voters • We would never give a democracy the ability to vote away human rights for certain groups for instance • Sometimes information spread on technical issues is minimal • The reason we elect representative is that it’s a good thing they occasionally make unpopular choices

9. Example motions • THW give more votes to citizens according to their performance on a current affairs test. • THW ban political parties and require all candidates for national public office to seek election as independents • THR the High Court decision compelling the BNP to alter its constitution to accept black members