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1. Doug Webb (douginamug@mastodon.xyz)'s status on Thursday, 27-Dec-2018 17:09:22 EST Doug Webb

   One of the core 'demands' of #ExtinctionRebellion is to set up a #CitizensAssembly. This is not a new concept: #sortition has been around since Athens.

   I find a lot of people worried about trusting 'normal people' to make big decisions. I would love to have a CA as one of the major political bodies.

   Opinions?

   1. neil 🍄 (neil@social.coop)'s status on Saturday, 29-Dec-2018 05:44:30 EST neil 🍄

      in reply to

      @douginamug I am all for the idea of more direct civic participation in society and the removal of an elite governing class. I can see why not having 'expert' knowledge would be a thorny issue tho. I wouldn't see it as not trusting normal people, just a recognition that a lot of issues require in-depth knowledge. I presently wouldn't trust myself to make a suitably informed decision on many complex issues outside my area of knowledge.

      1. neil 🍄 (neil@social.coop)'s status on Saturday, 29-Dec-2018 05:45:04 EST neil 🍄

         in reply to

         @douginamug That said, it works for juries, and if there was a strong civil service and adequate time for researching important decisions, I'm sure it could work.

         I don't know much about the details of sortition - would love to hear more of your views.

         1. Nick Sellen (nicksellen@social.coop)'s status on Saturday, 29-Dec-2018 07:22:57 EST Nick Sellen

            in reply to

            @neil @douginamug they can still include input from experts, the Irish Citizens Assembly seems really great from what I've read, e.g.

            https://www.involve.org.uk/resources/blog/opinion/citizens-assembly-behind-irish-abortion-referendum