System of Government

The best thing about Popullex is that ever citizen is a Member of the Government. This is the idea of Inclusive Democracy. To expand upon what I have already written about in the introduction, Inclusive Democracy/Consensus Democracy is a process that aims to achieve a result, not through majority rule, but through mutual agreement. Majority rule through binary decisions (ie voting yes or no) tends to cause alignments where people feel obligated to vote along party lines rather than voting for their own conscience. The resulting decision is therefore not always popular with those who voted for it, and is certainly not popular with those who voted against it, who have essentially had no say in the outcome. The idea of consensus democracy is that through debate and compromise, a decision can be achieved that all parties believe is the optimum outcome for the situation. This ensures that the decision is acted upon by all parties, and is not undermined by opposition. It is however slower, but Popullex is a relaxed place, so that is not a problem. If you agree or disagree with the use of this system in Popullex, please comment and we can enter into a discussion as equal citizens, and hopefully reach a mutually agreeable outcome.

Network of Need

Popullex is a model for how a totally self-governing society could emerge through the democracy of online networking. If we were to begin to imagine how this type of network could govern in a fair and equal manner, it would be essential to know, not just how much people could produce and exchange with each other, but how much people required. The post below examines how a new system of trade could be established by the use of 'time credits' which could be exchanged online, however this system would not address the needs of a single mother for instance, who may not have any spare time to exchange with anyone. Therefore a Network of Need could be established that ensured that the Nations wealth was distributed evenly. Agree or disagree? Establish your citizenship by commenting.

System of Trade/Commerce

The first agenda of the Nation of Popullex is to establish a new system of trade/commerce. I like the idea of using an open source model, where value reflects the effort required to make a product, rather than the amount someone is willing to pay for it in a competitive market. This is a simple version of participatory econimics. An even less capitalist version of participatory economics is to use 'time credits' to achieve a fair and equal exchange between people: If you want to purchase a product that took me 3 hours to make, you must provide me with 3 hours of your time in whaterver area you specialise. This would address some of the inequalities inherent in a capitalist society.Please add a comment, whether you agree or disagree, and you will become a citizen!

The Fluid Manifesto

This website is the Fluid Manifesto for the Nation of Popullex, and its very existence is the bond that unites us as a Nation.
Wikipedia (which is a perfect example of how consensus and self-regulation can produce tangible results through technology) defines a Nation as: "a cultural and social community [where] most members never meet each other, yet feel a common bond" Popullex is founded with the sole aim of defining nationhood in a modern world. If it is possible, through debate and consensus, to agree a definition of nationhood, then we will have the common bond that allows us to proclaim Popullex a nation. This website is the central doctrine of the Nation of Popullex; The Fluid Manifesto. This will be the forum through which the continuously adapting rules of the nation will be debated, edited and agreed upon. So important is this document, that every person wishing to become a citizen must post at least one comment on the Manifesto Board. I will then endevour to send an official passport confirming their citizenship! This is an experiment I am beginning to see if it is possible to allow people to truelly govern themselves through agreement rather than conflict. I think it is an incredibly interesting experiment with the potential to develop into something exciting and empowering for us all. For this reason, I urge you, please, post something on the Manifesto Board, engage in the debate, leave an email address, and you are a citizen for life. In Populex we might trust...