Periodic elections of western democracy allow the citizens to show their pleasure or displeasure of the governing political party. If the displeasure is greater than the pleasure, the governing political party is replaced. Hopefully that new party is more in touch with the people.
In contrast, the TDG will be a gradual change of elected representatives.
A Hypothetical TDG
To explain this change, I’m going to assume a city of 100,000 people that has a TDG structure of governance.
There will be about 500 first-tier TDG representatives. These positions will be mostly voluntary.
There will be about 60 second-tier representatives. These positions will have more TDG duties than the first tier. They require more societal resources but still a far cry from today’s elected representatives.
And there will be about 10 third-tier representatives. This third tier will be the ultimate decision-making body of the city, similar to the city council. The representatives should be working on the TDG fulltime, studying and discussing the issues and meeting with stakeholders.
Let’s just say this city has 570 people elected into TDG governance. In comparison, most western cities of this size with have about 12 individuals elected into their municipal, provincial, and federal governments.
Every spring, the neighborhoods will elect one of their own to represent them in this system (no parachuting allowed). The neighborhood representatives should be meeting once a month with other neighborhood representatives in their district. They will be getting to know each other.
In the fall, these districts will convene to vote one of their neighborhood representatives into the second tier (the group of 60).
Also in the spring, this second tier will convene to vote 10 of them into the third tier (or the city council). The election of the tiers will be staggered.
The Annual Movement
In essence, this TDG will have three elections each year. After every election, there will still be many TDG representatives holding their current positions.
And there will be some citizens moving out. Sometimes there will be good reasons for this movement. And sometimes the TDG will have its own reasons that no one will understand.
Some representatives will be moving higher. They did a great job a lower level.
Some second- or third-tier representatives will not keep their high position. But they still might retain their lower position.
Some neighborhoods will elect the same representative for 20 years or more. Some of these representatives will remain as neighborhood representatives all this time. Others might rise higher.
Some TDG positions will change frequently. Maybe a neighborhood has trouble finding an effective representative. Or maybe a neighborhood has several capable neighbors for the job—and a few votes cast here or there puts a different, yet capable, neighbor into TDG governance. A similar dynamic could exist at the district or council level.
Some TDG representatives may become “unelected,” yet be re-elected a year or decade later.
Some newly elected neighborhood representatives will have a natural flair for TDG governance. They just might find their way to the third tier in two years.
The 570 members of this TDG will have a great combination of longer serving members and newly elected members. The longer-serving members will keep the knowledge, experience, and wisdom of previous TDG operations and decisions. The newer members will come in with fresh ideas and new perspectives—and can steer the TDG in a new direction. The new and the old will provide a vibrant discussion and deliberation for the issues of the city.
Annual movement within the TDG is a good thing. This is much better than an abrupt change of one political party replacing another political party.
Published on Medium 2024
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