Title: Politics with the people : building a directly representative democracy /
Authors: Neblo, Michael A.,; Esterling, Kevin M.,; Lazer, David,
Year: 2018
Subjects: United States. Constituent communication Technological innovations.; United States.; Representative government and representation United States; Democracy United States; Political participation Technological innovations United States.; Communication in politics Technological innovations United States.; Online chat groups Political aspects United States.; Democracy; Representative government and representation; United States
Abstract: "Many citizens in the US and abroad fear that democratic institutions have become weak, and continue to weaken. Politics with the People develops the principles and practice of 'directly representative democracy' - a new way of connecting citizens and elected officials to improve representative government. Sitting members of Congress agreed to meet with groups of their constituents via online, deliberative town hall meetings to discuss some of the most important and controversial issues of the day. The results from these experiments reveal a model of how our democracy could work, where politicians consult with and inform citizens in substantive discussions, and where otherwise marginalized citizens participate and are empowered. Moving beyond our broken system of interest group politics and partisan bloodsport, directly representative reforms will help restore citizens' faith in the institutions of democratic self-government, precisely at a time when those institutions themselves feel dysfunctional and endangered"--
Contents: Introduction: directly representative democracy -- The spirit and form of popular government -- Building a new home style -- Half of democracy -- Rational ignorance and reasonable learning -- (The) deliberative persuasion -- Representative connections -- Scaling up and scaling out -- Conclusion: Republican redux.