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jkartchner | 2 months ago

As a prosecuting attorney who selects and works to convince the "average" juror 5+ times a year, this is not a good idea. You are vastly overestimating what the average level of competence is. Most people, when given unfamiliar knowledge work to do, are so hopelessly biased and ignorant that I definitely think the average congressperson is more qualified to do that kind of work. We are spoiled by selection bias when extrapolating what "average" means in the USA.

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superxpro12|2 months ago

I'm reminded of the famous Carlin bit: “Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.”

angiolillo|2 months ago

> I definitely think the average congressperson is more qualified to do that kind of work

My sense is that people who advocate for sortition find it attractive not because they believe that the average citizen is more intelligent or better informed than the average career politician, just less corrupt.

Setting aside whether that's even true, I'm not sure whether it would be better to live in a country run by honest idiots or corrupt experts.

dfxm12|2 months ago

Speaking of "average", every political debate moderator should ask the candidates where they shop and how much milk and eggs cost. Ask them how much it is to fill up their car's gas tank. I don't necessarily think sortition is the answer, but I have more faith that the so called "hopelessly biased and ignorant average person" would address issues that affect me than I do with hopelessly biased and ignorant people like Trump, Johnson, Thune, Schumer and Jefferies, because I know they're only looking out for themselves.

throwaway2037|2 months ago

So if you are wealthy enough to have house staff to do all the shopping, cooking, and driving, then you are somehow less qualified to be a member of parliament?