http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10907641
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/24/world/main3960942.shtml
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/25/world/asia/25bhutan.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=bhutan&st=nyt&oref=slogin
One of my favorite countries to read about is the little, unknown Asian monarchy of Bhutan. Located in NE Asia, this land lives without advertisement, incredible health care and a most interesting education system that declares Gross National Happiness as their guiding principle. Unfortunately for travelers, it is guarded by high tourist tariffs that make any backpacker cringe at the thought of forking over thousands of dollars for even the most unique locations. The country is ruled by a king in a constitutional monarchy and its first ever election's goal was to change the country to a DEMOCRATIC constitutional monarchy.
Bhutan recently had their first elections ever with an 82% turn out rate as noted by the referenced Economist article. So, why the need for a social voting mechanism in a country who questioned the need for such a system fearing voting as the gateway drug for corruption? Well, simply put: it is whatever once else is doing and so I guess we should as well.
Voting, elections, and free speech have won the global ideology game and the smart folk like King Jigme Singye Wangchuck realize that there are two options: either get everyone on board to vote that they like their country just the way it is as a force field from the judgemental west who will quickly join with the 3% of the country who is dissatisfied with the current rule. The country ranks in the top 10% on the world Happiness index and so to protect a country sometimes the way to go is to invest in the way the outside world views approval (for the people, by the people) so that unwanted attention stays away.
Pre-SDA Response
Pre-SDA Response
Oops..
Someone did not assess the problem correctly...
Post SDA Response Part 1
Post SDA Response Part 1
Post SDA Response Part 2
Post SDA Response Part 2
Showing posts with label Voting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Voting. Show all posts
SDA #4: An interview with Kasparov
An Excerpt (Interview in its entirety: http://www.goodmagazine.com/section/Features/russian_gambit):
GOOD: So you’re running for office. Do you have a slogan?
GARRY KASPAROV: We have three. One is “Russia without Putin,” which is more important than just without Putin—Putin is a symbol. Two is “No to the unfair elections,” and three is “No to monopoly in power.” Of course, we have other ideas about political reform: we want to reduce presidential powers and enhance parliament with new functions, we want the government to be responsible for the parliament, and, most important, we want the entire political system to depend on elections, not on appointments.
ME: Talk about game theory, this guy knows his stuff down to the nuiances in his slogan. His goal he says is "not to win elections, but to have them..." He goes on to say of folk who call him anti-Russian that "I have been playing for Russia for 25 years." He goes on to discuss the rules of a free market economy:
GOOD: Some people argue that Russia, as a fledgling capitalist society, has found a good balance between dictatorship and free markets for now.
KASPAROV: Are they living in Russia? They’re not. I despise people who promote dictatorship for short-term benefit. ... I still believe the strength of the free world is not only the market economy. It’s also moral principles. But the sad irony is that these people can’t see more than one move ahead, because they are making nice money on the Russian stock market and they’re not able to analyze the situation, which is almost disastrous.
GOOD: So you’re running for office. Do you have a slogan?
GARRY KASPAROV: We have three. One is “Russia without Putin,” which is more important than just without Putin—Putin is a symbol. Two is “No to the unfair elections,” and three is “No to monopoly in power.” Of course, we have other ideas about political reform: we want to reduce presidential powers and enhance parliament with new functions, we want the government to be responsible for the parliament, and, most important, we want the entire political system to depend on elections, not on appointments.
ME: Talk about game theory, this guy knows his stuff down to the nuiances in his slogan. His goal he says is "not to win elections, but to have them..." He goes on to say of folk who call him anti-Russian that "I have been playing for Russia for 25 years." He goes on to discuss the rules of a free market economy:
GOOD: Some people argue that Russia, as a fledgling capitalist society, has found a good balance between dictatorship and free markets for now.
KASPAROV: Are they living in Russia? They’re not. I despise people who promote dictatorship for short-term benefit. ... I still believe the strength of the free world is not only the market economy. It’s also moral principles. But the sad irony is that these people can’t see more than one move ahead, because they are making nice money on the Russian stock market and they’re not able to analyze the situation, which is almost disastrous.
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