Re:How old are democracies across the world?
by marginalia_nu on Thursday February 24, 2022 @04:57PM
(#30460857)
> Point is, this was rather small portion of population. And who you were, who parents were, mattered a lot in whether you was eligible to vote.
Sure, but what does voting matter if the options basically are the same?
> There is too many of us eligible.
Right, but I'll repeat the criticism you levied above. In modern democracy, who you are, and who your parents are, matters a lot in whether you are de facto eligible to hold office.
Re:How old are democracies across the world?
by groby_b on Thursday February 24, 2022 @06:10PM
(#30461614)
"In modern democracy, who you are, and who your parents are, matters a lot in whether you are de facto eligible to hold office."
The same as in Athens. Sure, you could throw your lot in, but... did you have the means to run for the office? Did you have supporters that "discouraged" other candidates from running?
The Athenians in office I can currently recall all came from rich or influential families. (I may well be wrong - my recall is certainly extremely spotty. I'd love pointers if anybody knows of an analysis on Athenian officials & their backgrounds)
Point is, this was rather small portion of population. And who you were, who parents were, mattered a lot in whether you was eligible to vote.
> This is just not true with our modern democracies. Most people eligible to vote have no realistic path to political office.
There is too many of us eligible.