Liquid Leadership

The current political system elects leaders who then apply themselves to every issue in society, regardless of their expertise on the subject.

Interactive Democracy may encourage other leaders to emerge - leaders with particular skills or expertise in a given area. For example, on issues of crime some journalists may want to present the views of Police Superintendents. Others may report the views of leading academics who have studied crime and are impassioned by their research to contribute to the debate. And it may not just be the conventional media that does the reporting. Academics can publish their papers on-line and individuals can blog on their own experiences.

Any organisation with an interest in an issue may lead their members to vote in a particular way, whether they be the Church, the Unions or the Political Parties. But ultimately every individual casts their own secret vote... unless Liquid Democracy is adopted.

Perhaps Liquid Democracy could be adapted to grant your vote to someone who's opinions you respect on certain issues, only when those issues arise at referendum? As a safeguard, the system would then notify you of how they voted.