Democracy is overrated, pure and simple.
Am I talking about how the electoral college takes other people’s votes into consideration only to make their own decisions. Not really, complain about Trump winning in 2016 all you want, small populated states like Rhode Island and Vermont can feel unrepresented to politicians. It’s practically one of the only ways to get their entire state’s influence out. Besides, in certain places, it’s not really the state that speaks, just their majority group. As is the case in the Middle East when politicians used their positions to support their ideological views and eventually stripped rights away from people starting with their scapegoats. And those are just the local problems, international difficulties are another matter.
As some intellectuals like to bring up, democracy requires judicial independence, property rights (to the chagrin of every socialist), and freedom of speech and opinions. Without 1 or 2 of these, there’s really no point in elections or jury trials.
But then again there’s this video’s example of democracy’s benefits being monopolized for living memes:
My Personal Gripe With Democracy
A year before this post, I spoke my criticisms about Comic book companies allowing fans to vote for things. A comic series from DC and who gets to join the X-Men in Marvel. But as I point out, these were determined more by characters’ popularity and fans’ familiarity with them. Was anyone really surprised that the sidekicks to comics’ most profitable character Batman beat a team of queer characters no one in the general public knew?
But now it’s happening again. Despite learning lessons from last year, it doesn’t seem like anything’s fundamentally changed.
Who Is The Target Audience Again?
While the X-Men vote has no A-Listers or B-List characters who appeared dominantly in other series like 2021 winner Polaris, I couldn’t help but feel something off.
Despite how social media is reputed to be a platform for young people, there’re data compiles on the age range. The highest percentage of Twitter users range from people in their mid-20s to their late 40s. People under 17 meanwhile are the lowest percentage, not even combining with 18-24 percentages do these youths compete with their seniors. So with social media playing such a pivotable role, I can only guess that the winners would be Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends co-star Firestar, co-star of cut short series X-Corp Penance, or longtime X-Men C-Lister Siryn. Even if you don’t know any of them, nostalgic fans will choose who they’re most familiar with than who has the most storytelling potential. I didn’t even know Micromax existed until I saw this poll.
Back to DC, the nominees are in tournament brackets so it won’t be a simple popularity contest. Also they made sure not to include anything about Gotham or Batman-related… on the titles. But… occupying two spaces are two different Green Lantern titles. And since Twitter and Instagram play a large role I can name who will win their respective rounds. I’ll be happy to be wrong, but considering how many characters appeared on TV and streaming services, it’s barely a contest. Hawkman & Hawkwoman, Constantine & The Demon, Kid Flash, Green Lantern over Black Canary, Animal Man, Green Lantern over Captain Carrot. In all honesty I’m not totally sure about Suicide Squad Dark vs Justice League Redacted or Superboy vs Cyborg. I’m leaning towards Redacted and Cyborg because they resemble what fans associate the most with them.
So yeah I was wrong about some results, but it actually confirmed my bias theory. One of the finalists Suicide Squad Dark put a Batman on its cover and story. Meanwhile I should’ve guessed that Superboy would’ve won because TV fans know Conner Kent from Young Justice and Titans where he’s one of the most dynamic characters around. Plus having the Superman logo is always a plus to the average voter. So yeah when push comes to shove, people will always choose what’s in the back of their minds.
Better To Have Left It Up To Chance
Now I’m going to rant about my personal beliefs in how this should’ve been handled. Because it goes with some ideological belief, it will seem preachy. It’s okay to get off here.
I’m of the opinion that lottocracy is what’s needed to replace democracy. Partly because I read articles and watched a video:
I believe that true democracy is too lenient on what’s happening in the moment or what’s the most popular issue in a faction rather than simultaneous present and future planning. That and for all the talk of representation, I’m beginning to equate that word with tokenism. As someone who voted for third party candidates two elections in a row, just getting an opinion out doesn’t matter anymore. Besides seeing the 2020 elections being treated like a collective gambling match; why continue pretending it’s something it’s not?
To start small let’s apply lottocracy with something simpler than a country’s economy or politics. In the above comic company votes, this can allow readers and publishers freedom from (most) criticisms. If chosen completely from random, think of it like… I don’t know how this guy describes the Infinity Gauntlet’s choosing process?:
Even if it’s done sequentially, the less visible and ripe for attention characters can get time in the spotlight. Well just as long as there are no A-Listers taking the spot. Because alternatively, people can still vote for characters with the more votes just meaning that candidate has the highest chance to win. If anyone knows X-COM, think of this decision along the lines of having 99% chance of hitting an opponent at practically point blank range and still having the frustrating chance of missing.
Quick Disclaimer
For obvious reasons this can’t happen on a larger scale overnight. Like Democracy, Lottocracy requires freedom of speech and opinion, but it requires complete judicial liberty and probably even more concepts. Which is why it’s not a good idea to put this in the court room unless as a last resort. Juries might be decided by lottery, but that doesn’t mean a sentence should.
For politics meanwhile, I think it’ll have to boil down to which candidate’s administrations are the best to back at an impasse. Which will have to mean being transparent about the plan’s outline at least and whether the administration has the means to do so. It’ll pretty much boil down to which candidate can do it best from a few and choosing from random which will be in position.
And for entertainment, along with the popularity granted via viral media, there’s always a chance the less notable personality or content can at least get thrown a person’s way. It can become a way for people to discover something they never realized they could like rather than stick to following habits and data. Granted, this will probably be a bit of hit and miss, but at least it’s something.
Conclusion for Lottocracies
At the very least, no one has to get overshadowed by a more famous figure. I for one would’ve liked to see more of Firestorm’s Fourth World Adventures in spite of the tall order of following up an obscure piece by Dwayne McDuffie. Or see Renee Montoya as the Question more rather than have her relegated to a Pride Month appearance. At the very least give them a better chance than putting them in a popularity competition with John Constantine, Green Lantern, or the (Kid) Flash.
If you have no idea what I’m talking about, maybe now you have an idea on why democracy’s overrated. Or realize how lame mainstream comics marketing and distribution is.