this post was submitted on 22 Jul 2023
37 points (97.4% liked)
Europe
8324 readers
1 users here now
News/Interesting Stories/Beautiful Pictures from Europe ๐ช๐บ
(Current banner: Thunder mountain, Germany, ๐ฉ๐ช ) Feel free to post submissions for banner pictures
Rules
(This list is obviously incomplete, but it will get expanded when necessary)
- Be nice to each other (e.g. No direct insults against each other);
- No racism, antisemitism, dehumanisation of minorities or glorification of National Socialism allowed;
- No posts linking to mis-information funded by foreign states or billionaires.
Also check out [email protected]
founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
100% agreed. To me personally, it shakes the foundation of democracy as we know it. Especially, since voter(s) appear to be so easily manipulated. These processes are hollowing out the meaning of " democratically installed Gvements ".
From another point of view, one could argue that this is exactly how democracy works, and this is what people want. But I wonder how come propagandist rhetoric haven't been condemned in elections? Not sure I understand all that though.
Added, a recent example; Just consider the Brexit elections and how most UK constituents were duped by politicians to opt out. Now, in 2023 they talk about Regrexit, as a majority would now cast a different vote. The consequences of decisions where people are somehow "mislead", often prove costly and severe.
I think this is essentially because the social media and political theatre optimises for and favours popularity rather than truthfulness and scientific evidence seeking. Democracy decides by what people vote - and people don't vote scientifically. If we look at things like prediction markets for instance, we get much better answers for complex issues, because people have skin in the game and loose their money if they're wrong. In current politics, it's ironically more risky and damaging to say an unpopular, uncomfortable but necessary true statement than to simply say a soothing, popular and unnecessary and unproductive lie. After all, lying doesn't cost anything, because society memory of you isn't perfectly logical and unbiquitous.
How does one bring market prediction like incentives into politics, I wonder. How to cure populism?