You've intuited a line of reasoning that is convincing to some: since, for any given individual, their vote doesn't matter, it isn't rational for that individual to pay attention to political issues that they have literally no control over. Why expend the effort to become knowledgeable when nothing you do matters? Conversely, people would be incentivized to reduce their ignorance in the event of a political system where their votes really did matter. So, installing such a system would reduce ignorance due to changed incentives.
There's some evidence from US states that have mechanisms for direct democracy that the outcome would be a proliferation of inefficacious policies combined with about as much ignorance as before -- California, for example.
Further, is it reasonable to demand of the average citizen that they know the fine-grained details of a wide variety of policy debates? Should the average dude be expected to cast an informed vote on whether the US should deactivate the 5th Fleet -- thus saving the US something like $60 billion a year -- and calculate the probability that Iran won't use its asymmetric naval capabilities to close the Strait of Hormuz and thus stymy the flow of oil there, one of a million substantive issues facing policymakers on a daily basis?
I think that it isn't fair (nor reasonable) to expect such knowledge of the average guy toiling away to put food on his family (as Bushy would say). I think that punting such issues off to the common man would lead to even crazier policies out of the world hegemon than we currently see.
What you?
Haven't been to bed for awhile so indulge the retort from the rubber room here.
Key word being 'transition.' It's expected that today's poorly informed and hilariously undereducated (g'day!) population aren't going to do it right. What's second most shameful about political stewardship is that it has atrophied the acumen of the Average Joe. Most shameful is the follow-on conclusion that Joe can't hack it past his surfy (!!) role in the feudal order.
Shit like national defence (nations as an antiquated notion being another topic) is the last thing that Joe gets to have his say on, many moons hence. Proving grounds like local government is a good proving ground. Absurdly small, even. PTA votes. Then municipal ordinances. Township, county, state, etc. Engagement vs apathy is the first battle.
I agree that there will always be realms of information that will be best interpreted by dedicated specialists, and I agree that no one can keep up to date with every issue and continue to make a living, but I can see a bobby slyish New Balance ordained when agenda guards aren't simply installed to oversee issues (like defence 'policy' and spending). Major issues, about which there is overwhelming popular dissent, have been removed from people's hands. If an elected rep proves to be full of shit then there should be an in-term means of popularly voting the guy out. It should need a big %, but it should be possible by popular referendum.
And what's the deal with these Electoral Collegiates? Stewards to select stewards? In mule & farm time, maybe. But this is classic gerrymandering. Count the votes. That's it. Am I misunderstanding?
In ranting conclusion then, my fellow democophalluses, the scales are unbalanced. I have no idea how to eliminate all the government decision makers, and gun-to-head I agree they should remain (selection process reviewed). And I don't know when the magic transparancy of information would suddenly materialise, upon which the decision making process, along with the engaged intellect, depends, but I think there's be a new market for it full of voters deciding for themselves what's bullshit and what isn't on a daily basis.
I'm tired now and still find it clear that there's a gulf between the will of the majority and the actions of those who 'act' on their behalf. I'd like to see it addressed and I think there are ways to do it that wouldn't put the nation at risk while still invigorating the democratic spirit which has been purported to be the life-blood of the place.
