Attempt at a Socratic dialog - Thread 1 - Why do we have elections?

[benburch]

Here is the idea... It might not work with so many people, though. I am going to ask a question, and you try to answer it. In return I will select one or more of these responses to ask another question in a new thread, and so on.

To open: What is the purpose of having an election?

(Also feel free to enter into a meta-discussion of this nutty idea I had.)

[change200447]

1. this year there wasn't

It seems with the new voting machines choosing for us, we didn't need an election at all. With no way to check your vote, who knows what really happened. I at least had a punch card, but living in a Republican state with the electoral college, my vote didn't count anyway. But I still voted, they can't take that away from me!

[PATRICK]

2. yes they can and did

n/t

[benburch]

3. I stipulate that there was not (yet) a valid election here.

the question was about elections as a whole not this specific one.

[newyawker99]

17. Hi change200447!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[bullimiami]

4. as an ideal

it would be of couse to allow for true representative governing

as applied

just a tool to keep the masses under the illusion that they have chosen the flawed leadership we are stuck with.

[Taxloss]

5. In order to establish which people can make decisions

on behalf of everyone, and in doing so create the least dischord.

[bemildred]

6. To reaffirm the legitimacy of the current ruling class. nt

[PsychoDad]

8. Yeah,

What you said :)

[PsychoDad]

7. Elections...

In theory, in order to determine the will of the people.

In reality, it seems more to give the illusion of public acceptance to a series of controled choices, ending in a choice for the lesser evil. The choices are pre-packaged if not out right decided.

[TrustingDog]

9. the purpose is...

It's a façade for the ruling class. As long as fools think their precious votes are actually honestly counted, the BFEE and like can run roughshod all over your face and you smile in appreciation for all that freedom and liberty they bestow on the great unwashed.

[H2O Man]

10. It was to create an illusion

of the peasants participating in a democratic activity, much as novacaine produces the illusion that having a tooth yanked out of one's head is something one sits around for.

[lostnfound]

11. To transfer big money to corporate media via advertising. nt

[stavka]

12. To get a feel of what the masses want the elite to do. (NT)

[RainDog]

13. to give symbolic reassurance

elections serve to give legitimacy to a government. this is why dictatorships also hold elections.

they bind the people in a land to obey the laws of the land

they give the ruling classes the feeling that they have the right to pursue whatever policies they want, because we vote for people, not policy positions (as Bush voters will soon find out more than they would like to know)

they make it possible to retroactively pass judgment on an office holder

they make it possible to tell people who disgree to shut up because "the people have spoken." --no matter that most people do not vote, do know what policy positions candidates hold, and do not feel they have influence on those decisions because they cannot hold lobbyists, for instance, responsible for the acts their companies do, again with the legitimacy of an elected govt behind them.

[outraged2]

14. consent of the governed

...elections are about the People granting their consent. Once upon a time, the People were sovereign. Sadly, that time has passed.

[rman]

15. originally, to enable us the people to rule ourselves

"rule" as in: coordinate, manage

[Swamp Rat]

16. Something to do with the government respecting the will of the people?

I know it's a theory - that I believe in - but wouldn't it be nice for a change?

[robbedvoter]

18. The democracy thingy: representation, accountability

i get a say in who's running things, they watch for what I (majority) want if they want to continue.... Empowerment & checks& balances at the same time.
The way a representative democracy works (you can only have a direct democracy in a small society - such as Athens).

In this society today (as in some distaroships I know) the purpose of an election is to further the illusion of a democracy.

A sedative for the irrelevant masses.