[ExI] Internet based political party in Australia

[David C. Harris]

Excellent idea.  If they get good response to the initial concept, may I 
suggest this addition which is like the idea of delegation advocated 
independently about 30 years ago by Professor John McCarthy and myself 
at Stanford:

Trying to make the many decisions of a modern nation will overload and 
wear out most of the direct voters of SOL.  Consider adding the ability 
to say "make my votes like the recommendations of NNN", where NNN is any 
member willing to be considered an opinion leader or wise 
representative.  Or accomplish the same thing with explicit electronic 
"proxies" that can be cast by the person who holds them.  Overloaded 
voters can give their proxies to anyone they trust, reducing the 
information processing load on them.

  - David Harris, Palo Alto


Emlyn wrote:
> I am very seriously considering voting for these people in our
> upcoming elections:
>
> http://www.senatoronline.org.au/
>
> >From the site:
> -----------
> Senator On-Line is Australia's only Internet based democratic political party.
>
> Senator On-Line is not aligned to any other political party… it is
> neither Liberal nor Labor.
>
> Senator On-Line ('SOL') is a truly democratic party which will allow
> everyone on the Australian Electoral roll who has access to the
> internet to vote on every Bill put to Parliament and have its Senators
> vote in accordance with a clear majority view.
>
> We will be running candidates for the upcoming federal Upper House
> (Senate) elections.
>
> When a SOL senator is elected a web site will be developed which will provide:
>
> - Accurate information and balanced argument on each Bill and important issues
> - The vast majority of those registered on the Australian Electoral
> roll the chance to have their say by voting on bills and issues facing
> our country
> - A tally of all votes which will then count in Parliament
> - Each person on the Australian Electoral roll will be entitled to one
> vote and only be allowed to vote once on each bill or issue.
>
> SOL senators will have committed in writing to voting in line with the
> clear majority view of the SOL on-line voters.
>
> Senator On-Line will enable broader community involvement in the
> political process and the shaping of our country.
> -----------
>
> Related news:
>
> Online Party Hopes to Click with Voters
> http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/online-party-hopes-to-click-with-voters/2007/10/18/1192300920221.html?page=2
>
>   

-- 
 David Harris, Palo Alto, California.
               GPS location: 37.41988, -122.13388 (1984 WGS system).
 Active account: dharris234 at mindspring.com 
 Phone: 1-650-856-9126 (has answering machine or me)
 Lifetime e-mail forwarding account: David.C.Harris at stanfordalumni.org
 Postal ("snail mail") address: David Harris
                                Medintrans
                                455 Margarita Ave.
                                Palo Alto, CA  94306-2827