[Unknown Target]

http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-06/iceland-crowdsourcing-suggestions-its-new-constitution-web

Man I've been talking about doing this elsewhere for ages.

[NGTM-1R]

4chan writes your new constitution.

[LordPomposity]

"Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube"

We The People ok poop is coming out

We'll see how long it takes this to get Gooned.

[Mongoose]

This seems like it has the potential to become intensely stupid.

[LordPomposity]

I was going to say that more popular input is a good thing. I had my comment written up, and then I  thought about what my country's Constitution would probably look like if it were written by the average citizen.

I then held down my backspace key until all I had left was a flashing cursor.

[Unknown Target]

...and if their constitution comes out as something reasonable and well-supported by it's populace, you folks will say....?

I mean really, it's funny how everyone has so little faith in each other that they're willing to deny themselves the right to say how their country should be governed. Amusing and a little sad. Well, mostly sad lol.

[LordPomposity]

...and if their constitution comes out as something reasonable and well-supported by it's populace, you folks will say....?

Then I'll say it happened because Icelanders apparently have some basic understanding of how civilized societies are meant to function that seems to elude a great many people.

[NGTM-1R]

...and if their constitution comes out as something reasonable and well-supported by it's populace, you folks will say....?

They have superb anti-trolling measures and we should look into copying them.

[MP-Ryan]

It seems it's more suggestions are being collected online.  Drafting is still in the hands of a select few.

This reminds me of a poignant quotation:

"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter."

Which is attributed (paraphrased, most likely) to Winston Churchill.

[Unknown Target]

I can't find the quote, but to that I would reply with the notion that a strong democracy requires a well-educated and well-informed populace.

If you don't have both then I imagine that that quote would apply.

A lot of this goes back to the Cold War, and the fears of "Communist sympathizers". As a friend of mine said, you don't need to worry about whether or not someone's a Communist if they can't even spell it.

[StarSlayer]

Just wait till Steven Colbert gets his claws into this

[Luis Dias]

People also dismissed wikipedia.

People commit the same mistakes over and over again.

[redsniper]

I can't find the quote, but to that I would reply with the notion that a strong democracy requires a well-educated and well-informed populace.

And we'll never have that because the powers that be don't want a strong democracy and a well educated and well informed populace. They want a malleable popluace. An obedient populace.

[Grizzly]

People also dismissed wikipedia.

People commit the same mistakes over and over again.

And Wikipedia remains dismissable.

[JCDNWarrior]

I can't find the quote, but to that I would reply with the notion that a strong democracy requires a well-educated and well-informed populace.

And we'll never have that because the powers that be don't want a strong democracy and a well educated and well informed populace. They want a malleable popluace. An obedient populace.

Exactly. Or as the late George Carlin said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acLW1vFO-2Q

That sums most of our problems up.

Also, I have faith the Icelanders will come with a great constitution, for the single reason that they kicked out the bankers that were going to make them debt slaves. And with a good constitution you can keep them out.