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Single Idea 7254
[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / d. Representative democracy
]
Full Idea
In Utopia, anyone who deliberately tries to get himself elected to a public office is permanently disqualified from holding one.
Gist of Idea
If you try to get elected, you should be permanently barred from seeking office
Source
Thomas More (Utopia [1516], Bk 2)
Book Ref
More,Thomas: 'Utopia', ed/tr. Turner,Paul [Penguin 1965], p.106
A Reaction
This echoes a thought found in Plato (Idea 2149). I've always liked this idea. Why can't we have elections were a group of the best people are invited to stand? Well, yes, it would lead to corruption... Still, the best should be pushed to the front.
Related Idea
Idea 2149
Reluctant rulers make a better and more unified administration [Plato]
The
20 ideas
with the same theme
[the people chose a small group to govern]:
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22533
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If the people are equal in nature, then they should all share in ruling
[Aristotle]
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2817
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It is wrong that a worthy officer of state should seek the office
[Aristotle]
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22576
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No office is permanent in a democracy
[Aristotle]
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7254
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If you try to get elected, you should be permanently barred from seeking office
[More,T]
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19998
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If deputies represent people, they are accountable, but less so if they represent places
[Montesquieu]
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7251
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The English are actually slaves in between elections
[Rousseau]
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20558
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Your representative owes you his judgement, and betrays you if he gives your opinion instead
[Burke]
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22041
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Representatives by region ignores whether they care about the national interest
[Hegel, by Pinkard]
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20504
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People can only participate in decisions in small communities, so representatives are needed
[Mill]
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16009
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When we seek our own 'freedom' we are just trying to avoid responsibility
[Kierkegaard]
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22682
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Universal suffrage is no guarantee of wise choices
[Tocqueville]
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7976
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People like democracy because it means they can avoid power
[Baudrillard]
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22264
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Modern liberal rights in democracies protect individuals against the majority
[Sandel]
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23260
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A cap on time of service would restrict party control and career ambitions
[Grayling]
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7477
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Modern democracy is actually elective oligarchy
[Watson]
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20093
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In the 18th century democratic lots lost out to elections, that gave us a non-hereditary aristocracy
[Reybrouck]
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20091
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Representative elections were developed in order to avoid democracy
[Reybrouck]
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21126
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Representative should be either obedient, or sensible, or typical
[Shorten]
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21128
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There is 'mirror representation' when the institution statistically reflects the population
[Shorten]
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21127
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In a changed situation a Mandated Representative can't keep promises and fight for constituents
[Shorten]
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