This series of posts will share more information about each paragraph in the summarized version of, A Fisherman's Freedom Philosophy posted on the home page of this website and in the 2022 Natural Art Freedom Calendar. Feel free to make a comment or ask questions. Please be polite.
"Self-governance with official representation is an idea I started promoting after our fishing license fees were doubled to create the Commercial Fishing Resource Fund. Some of this fund was supposed to help preserve and promote our fisheries. Questionable expenditures and difficulties renewing our licenses prompted me to ask that some funds be used to set up an official website where we could conveniently and securely purchase our licenses. The website would include a way for us to vote on funding priorities and who represents us on the appropriations committee. We could set an example for governing ourselves using modern technology. This concept could be applied in state and local governments within our Representative Republic framework. We could elect articulate, apolitical people who agree to do what their voters want. They could post bills and relevant information on our own secure websites where citizen legislators can discuss issues and hold votes. Our votes should be binding when a two-thirds majority of participating constituents in a suitable quorum agree on something. Our Public Servant would vote the way we told them or abstain if supermajority agreement could not be reached. The supermajority requirement avoids mob rule and helps people think about other points of view. Multiple smaller constituent groups numbering between 3 and 300 would be beneficial in many ways. Public Servants should only serve one term in each position to limit the corrupting influence of power. A coordinated effort by concerned citizens to elect true Public Servants would take special interest money out of the political equation. We could direct our Public Servants to push policies like Stop and Review. We could coordinate with other citizen legislators to convince traditional politicians they should work with us. We could show others around the globe how to practice self-governance with official representation. Good communication and coordination can help bring power back to the people. Apathy is our biggest obstacle to making this a reality."
The picture with a butterfly was chosen to symbolize the butterfly effect this idea of Self-Governance with Official Representation could have if enough people gave it a try. It is with deep regret that I must acknowledge the chances are very slim this will happen as apathy keeps the masses from getting involved. Plato issued this warning long ago. "The price of apathy toward public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." This timeless truth includes women politicians today.
Modern technology offers us a chance to govern ourselves in ways we never could before. Our Representative Republic is the perfect platform for electing true public servants that govern according to the people's will. County Commissioner seats are a great place to start. It would not take very many concerned citizens getting involved to fill these seats. We could set up a secure website where Commissioners would post any information available before meetings. Meetings could be live streamed to our website. We could hold real-time votes when necessary and push for votes to be held after all information and public comments have been considered. Our Commissioners would do what a supermajority of us agreed on or abstain if that threshold was not met. Doing nothing is often better than what politicians peddle.
Having multiple smaller constituent groups for each elected position would help keep discussions civil and coherent. Smaller groups would help keep hackers out as they are easier to spot than on larger platforms. These smaller groups would also be easier to assemble in person if internet access were disrupted. Individuals from different groups could meet in a full forum to discuss issues with other constituents. Votes from each group would all be counted together to guide our Public Servant Commissioner.
We could use our Commissioner Seats to pass Resolutions that influence outcomes in other governing bodies. We could push for more local control to limit the power of centralized government. We could consider different points of view to find solutions most reasonable people can support. We could decide how things will be run in our communities and take a break from doing anything for periods of time. Government doesn't always have to be governing.
The butterfly effect of electing one Public Servant that truly works for us could send political ripples across the globe to change the course of human history in favor of freedom.
"Self-governance with official representation is an idea I started promoting after our fishing license fees were doubled to create the Commercial Fishing Resource Fund. Some of this fund was supposed to help preserve and promote our fisheries. Questionable expenditures and difficulties renewing our licenses prompted me to ask that some funds be used to set up an official website where we could conveniently and securely purchase our licenses. The website would include a way for us to vote on funding priorities and who represents us on the appropriations committee. We could set an example for governing ourselves using modern technology. This concept could be applied in state and local governments within our Representative Republic framework. We could elect articulate, apolitical people who agree to do what their voters want. They could post bills and relevant information on our own secure websites where citizen legislators can discuss issues and hold votes. Our votes should be binding when a two-thirds majority of participating constituents in a suitable quorum agree on something. Our Public Servant would vote the way we told them or abstain if supermajority agreement could not be reached. The supermajority requirement avoids mob rule and helps people think about other points of view. Multiple smaller constituent groups numbering between 3 and 300 would be beneficial in many ways. Public Servants should only serve one term in each position to limit the corrupting influence of power. A coordinated effort by concerned citizens to elect true Public Servants would take special interest money out of the political equation. We could direct our Public Servants to push policies like Stop and Review. We could coordinate with other citizen legislators to convince traditional politicians they should work with us. We could show others around the globe how to practice self-governance with official representation. Good communication and coordination can help bring power back to the people. Apathy is our biggest obstacle to making this a reality."
The picture with a butterfly was chosen to symbolize the butterfly effect this idea of Self-Governance with Official Representation could have if enough people gave it a try. It is with deep regret that I must acknowledge the chances are very slim this will happen as apathy keeps the masses from getting involved. Plato issued this warning long ago. "The price of apathy toward public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." This timeless truth includes women politicians today.
Modern technology offers us a chance to govern ourselves in ways we never could before. Our Representative Republic is the perfect platform for electing true public servants that govern according to the people's will. County Commissioner seats are a great place to start. It would not take very many concerned citizens getting involved to fill these seats. We could set up a secure website where Commissioners would post any information available before meetings. Meetings could be live streamed to our website. We could hold real-time votes when necessary and push for votes to be held after all information and public comments have been considered. Our Commissioners would do what a supermajority of us agreed on or abstain if that threshold was not met. Doing nothing is often better than what politicians peddle.
Having multiple smaller constituent groups for each elected position would help keep discussions civil and coherent. Smaller groups would help keep hackers out as they are easier to spot than on larger platforms. These smaller groups would also be easier to assemble in person if internet access were disrupted. Individuals from different groups could meet in a full forum to discuss issues with other constituents. Votes from each group would all be counted together to guide our Public Servant Commissioner.
We could use our Commissioner Seats to pass Resolutions that influence outcomes in other governing bodies. We could push for more local control to limit the power of centralized government. We could consider different points of view to find solutions most reasonable people can support. We could decide how things will be run in our communities and take a break from doing anything for periods of time. Government doesn't always have to be governing.
The butterfly effect of electing one Public Servant that truly works for us could send political ripples across the globe to change the course of human history in favor of freedom.