Ok I heard about this on WWL yesterday and I think it is something that any voter in Louisiana needs to take a look at. Here is the site: http://www.trufant.com/brightvote.htm It is still in the devloping stages but could be a way that we start to take the power back from the parties!
interesting, but are you sure you want what the people want? i suppose you do if your legislators are truly terrible.
Its more then just that. From the creator of the software it will keep a report card of the actions of the representives and the emails that are sent in. So for example there is a bill about to be voted on and 80% of the emails from the people he represents are in favor of the bill and he does not vote for it it will keep track of that. So whenever it comes time for reelection you can go and check the report card and see how he did. Why reelecte someone that does not really represent the people who voted him in.
well, because people do not always know what is best for them. it is certainly more democratic, but that isnt necessarily good. basically the opinion polls would run the policy. and that might be good, but might not.
This is true and like Black Jack said it does come down to the rep. He can ignore the emails. I think there is a bigger plus with this that may not be seen right away and that would be getting people more involved and thinking about what is going on, and that is not a bad thing. To often people go to vote and dont know HALF of the buttons they are pushing. And though we as normal people may not have all the knowledge or know all the terms when it comes to certain bills, we are the ones that see the effects or the lack there of. I guess in a way it gives the people its own lobbyist.
i suppose it is a good idea in that it gets people noticing, paying attention, so these dudes can't just slip terrible legilstioan through unnoticed as easily.
I totally disagree with the concept. When he elect someone to the legislature, we also elect his judgement. No elected official should feel bound to blindly follow the dictates of the electorate. Bright Vote would entirely do away with the need to have a legislature. But America is not a pure democracy; it is a democratic republic. We elect representatives who vote in our stead. If we don't like the way they vote, then we can vote them out of office. But an elected official is not a puppet of the people; he is his own person and must make judgments on his on sense of what is right and wrong as well as his own conscience.
Or how about the "people" behind the gov. using the money promised to the city of new orleans to get enough reps to cancel the veto session.
I think your missing the main focus of the idea. Its not about influencing the way a rep votes. Its more about keeping track of how a rep votes. Do you keep track of every bill that someone you voted for and how that rep votes? If you do, you got alot more time then I do. If you dont then what do you have that gives you that info so that you can make the choice to reelect him/her or not.
Anyone can do that on the internet. Secondly, the Bright Vote states that the elected official would vote the same way the majority of citizens voted. Clearly that goes far beyond simply keeping track of how an official votes.
