[Redsand11j]

hmm, we seem to have had another vote- and, considering that the floating platform is compatible with both, I would ask that, in order to settle the tie, whoever's vote is on floating platform choose one.

I can't order you, but it would be nice to break the tie.

Terraformer- I think you're talking more about libertarianism than democracy. The problem with direct democracy (which is what I advocate) is that everyone has an idea, but a final vote should really come down to 10 options or less. The question is how you decide which is the most reasonable.

The only thing I can think of is some sort of internet wiki system*, where someone would put up their idea, then people who agree could sign the talk page. Perhaps having people decide on categories where their ideas belong, then having a simple list for each category, organized randomly, when the person visits, so that each person sees a different order, and it doesn't affect the results.

For deciding which one to use (out of the top 5 or 10), I support a 'partial legislature' system, whereby the people's vote has the same amount of power as the people voting. For example, if 50% of the population votes, then that vote is weighted to 50%, and the congress's has the other 50%.

For deciding which issue is significant enough that a solution is needed, once again, a wiki system*, with partial legislature, except this time the vote is yes/no on the top issue of the week.
the president would be an elected figurehead, whose job is to oversee the running of the courts, although by a partial president** system.

*A 'forum' system could work too.
**same as 'partial legislature', but for the president.

[NoMoreLies]

Well, I have several theories of how we could achieve that, but they all have one feature: power increases the further down you go, till you reach the individual. Just like rockets; the lower stages have more power than the upper stages.

One problem with modern life and technology is that it requires a centralised government to survive. Or at least it seems to. It may be possible, if home fabrication improves, to do away with the need for large tech companies, and large companies in general. I foresee something of a freeware economy, where people modify plans and share them. This would have a dramatic effect on innovation.

Oh dear. I seem to have gone off topic into the heart of democracy

[Redsand11j]

Well, I was thinking more 'separate but equal'- of course that might not work out so well.

And I think, in order to retain unity, there would be some degree of centralization necessary. The key is to make sure that the government has no degree of separation from the people- but that the government is the people. A thing to remember is that true democracy is actually very similar to anarchy- if we could achieve it.

[NoMoreLies]

Hmmm... so the Island is the capital 'state', with the floating colonys being the states or districts which decide most of the laws?

[Redsand11j]

Or we can do hydroponics on the peripherals, and live on the land.

Or we can mix the two. Either way, your floating colonies will need some sort of base of operations. Perhaps it could be some sotr of confederacy, the floating colonies being a part of Esperance, but also having some autonomy?