December 15, 2023

   By Josuter 

It seems that people the world over have struggled for centuries to be heard.  A new form of government was hammered out over those centuries with many battles, but it proved to be a better form of government in most situations.  The basis of this new government structure was one-person-one-vote.  Sounds simple enough, and it sounds fair.  Whoever gets a majority wins.  

This is unsettling for Israel.  If they allow Palestinians a vote, then in the places where the Palestinians outnumber the Jews, the Palestinians might take top positions in government.  That could be fatal for the vision of Israel as a Jewish state.

The concept of majority is about the feeling of fairness, primarily the feeling of fairness in the people with pitchforks and weapons ready to fight.  If the opponent has more people than we do, maybe we should just go home and call it a day.  

That was Democracy 101.  A type of one-state solution may be better than a two-state solution in the short run, allowing Palestinians to live freely in Israel but not allow Palestinians to carry any arms.  They could not form a military.  They might have their own police in some areas, but not in all areas.  What do the Palestinians get in return?  An 80% vote by Palestinians can remove any politician from office at any time.  (or by 60% of the general public).  The goal here is to get politicians to be real leaders of all the people – or they are out.  This could be written into the constitution in the same way that 2/3 majority is written in for specific situations.  

The Right of Return by Palestinians to their homes that are now occupied by settlers is a difficult issue, but it too can be handled with a new structure.  Half of the settlers could remain in half the houses of any one settlement.  The other half would be Palestinians, Christians, or other outsiders.  If there is any significant level of fighting then all will be removed, and the homes given to someone else. Democracy 202 pushes people to talk and solve problems together.  

Democracy 202 is an establishment of better feedback and better structures to govern all people.  People generally have a good sense of leadership if they have good information.  First amendment rights will be essential.  A change in structure of this kind would require help from outside countries or maybe the UN to enforce it in an efficient and effective way.  But it is time to take democracy to a new level.