Logocracy - Chapter 13: The Logocratic Association

Creating an independent apolitical non-party

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In the United States, 49% of voters classify themselves as independent. The other half is split evenly between Democrats and Republicans. If there were a party catering to this independent bloc, its vote could be decisive in elections, and even pull additional voters from either side of the spectrum. But as it is now, these independents may simply swing to either side of the two-party system depending on the circumstances—the lesser of two evils, in most cases—if they vote at all. (Around 6% of independents will apparently vote for whoever promises a change to the status quo.) As the system currently stands, they are forced to choose between two parties, neither of whose platforms they agree with completely, or throw away their vote on a third-party candidate with close to zero chance of winning.

Chapter 13 of Logocracy goes into more details of the form and features of the logocratic association. Unlike an American third party, like the Green Party, this association is more what I would call a moderate, apolitical non-party, and it is central to the logocratic system. In practice, democracies have the unfortunate effect of often neutering the influence of those who are turned off by the party system, with its polarization, rigid policy platforms, uncritical voting (both by voters and legislators), and the respective parties’ unreflective one-sidedness. Independents would rather vote for candidates on the strength of their character and ability, but such candidates rarely win primaries. By contrast, party voters often vote blindly, regardless of their candidates’ character, and regardless of the feasibility of their proposed policies (or the probability that their implementation will even be attempted).

In a logocracy, the logocratic association will be enshrined in the constitution. Membership will have two fundamental requirements: citizenship and renunciation of participation in other parties. The association may also actively exclude members of other groups—e.g. extremists and members of various clandestine or semi-clandestine organizations (e.g. the WEF and its various leadership programs). Lacking a specific party platform, it would allow itself to be a forum for a wide range of social and political views. Its devotion to society as a whole will guide their commentary on policy, secure its close relationship with the wise council, and ensure its cooperation with any legitimate government.

In a national election, for instance, the association could give their backing to a non-member. Presumably, they could also refuse to put forward a candidate, instead backing one party’s candidate if he is of good character. (However, if this is the case, I expect it would be rare.) I also imagine the association could approach public figures who they feel would make ideal candidates. As for elected parliamentary members’ votes, they will be determined by each member’s conscience, not party discipline.

The association will focus on training citizens for their civic and parliamentary examinations, helping to organize the exams themselves, as well as publishing the relevant textbooks and organizing public lectures. It will also take on responsibility for the welfare of non-citizens and political refugees, advising the government on potential cases of asylum or extradition, engaging in charitable activities, and helping to organize social and cultural institutions. Its presence in public debate (TV, radio, social media representation) will be guaranteed, and it will operate on all levels: local to national.

Constitutionally mandated duties and parliament-approved statutes such as the above will be financed by state subsidies as well membership fees and tax-deductible donations. Local offices will contribute members to the association’s council, which will have the same number of members as the senate. To preserve its independent character, the term of the association’s speaker should be limited to around three years, without re-election. “The association will therefore often put forward its former speakers and activists as candidates for higher elective positions in the state.”

For Lobaczewski, the logocratic association’s existence “derives from the laws of nature and the basic presuppositions of logocracy,” specifically the existence of a reasonable majority and the principles of public sovereignty and competence. The association would thus “become a natural creative and stabilizing factor, an essential and characteristic organ of the proposed system.”

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Chapter 13: The Logocratic Association

We already understand that from the principle of public sovereignty arises the necessity of an organization of citizens who do not wish their persons to be subordinated to the leaders of political parties and their programs. Such people are often offended by their self-certain one-sidedness or radicalism. They feel they are friendly citizens to all their countrymen, regardless of social position and political beliefs. This attitude is due to the quality of their natures and affections, to their generally superior talents, to their prudence and wisdom in life. In democratic systems, unfortunately, this section of society is sometimes removed from influence on government. A logocratic system, which values such qualities of character and mind, will entrust this section of society with the role of a moderating and balancing factor, and at the same time will make use of its intellectual and creative possibilities.

This should be realized by the organization of non-partisan citizens provided for in the constitution, already named a logocratic or civic association in Chapter 8. This follows from the most general presuppositions of such a system and knowledge of the laws of nature, which are expressed by the presence in every society of a quantitatively significant proportion of the said type of people. Therefore, the establishment of this association will be characteristic of the logocratic system in all its possible forms, and the provision for its existence will be written into the first part of the constitution.

Membership in the association will require two conditions: becoming a citizen and renouncing participation in any political party. The provisions of the second part of the constitution, the law, the statutes of the association, or a resolution of its council, could also exclude members of other organizations that are extreme, autocratic, or whose goals or leadership are secretive. Former members of pathocratic organizations could be admitted under exceptional circumstances. In addition, members of a logocratic association would be allowed to represent a wide range of diverse social and political views, and would be allowed to share them at association meetings, with due respect for custom.

A logocratic association will not be a political party and therefore cannot adopt political or electoral programs and oblige its members to be guided by them. Resolutions of the chief council of the association on political matters may only be in the nature of opinions or resolutions, but they should be morally significant for society as a whole. From this comes the association’s enduring solidarity with the council of the wise and its cooperation with any legitimate government for the social good of the nation.

The association will have the right, guaranteed by the constitution, to put forward candidates for all elective offices, whether president of the country, parliament, or local government. In justifying its choices, however, it can only give the values of character and mind of its candidates. Their political views will, of course, be taken into account when the members of the association deliberate on the nominations. While the most common practice will of course be to put forward candidates from among the members of the association, this should not be limited to them. The association may propose any person, even a member of one of the political parties. However, it will be a good tradition of the association to nominate thoughtful and educated people. In the legislature, the deputies and senators chosen from the association’s candidates will form a sufficiently numerous non-partisan grouping, which will be guided by common sense and good mental qualifications. Thus, a moderate grouping will be formed, often determining the results of the vote. Members of this grouping will invoke the logocratic principle of their own discernment of issues. Thus, no voting discipline will operate. This will contribute to the logocratic character of the whole parliament.

In addition to its electoral functions, the association should perform certain other duties by law, its statutes, or tradition. By law, the association will be the main institution that takes care of the training of citizens for civil rights and assists those who are preparing for the examinations for parliamentary rights. The association must be entrusted with the organization of examination sessions, in cooperation with local authorities and scientific institutions. In carrying out this duty, the association will publish the textbooks already discussed, organize public lectures, and provide access to scientific literature. This does not exclude the initiatives of other organizations in this field. Political organizations will tend to present matters in the spirit of their own ideology, which can enrich the education of the citizens, but the synthesis of this would nevertheless be entrusted to a non-partisan organization with good intellectual qualifications.

The association’s statutory duty will be to look after the welfare of those who, for whatever reason, have not obtained the right of citizenship. Such people, who are understood to have difficulties that are usually not their fault, should find advice and assistance in the association, either as citizens or as foreigners. The association can intervene with the authorities in their affairs, maintain appropriate offices, run or support care facilities.

A similar task would be to care for political refugees persecuted in their own country. National authorities would take into account the opinion of the association in cases of asylum or extradition of persons requested by another country. Certain charitable activities, carried out in agreement with appropriate organizations, would be in keeping with the tradition of the association.

The association may publish a press that objectively informs the public, or it may own radio broadcasting media. The association must be able to influence the major TV and radio stations. It may undertake useful initiatives on a national or local scale. It will help to organize social and cultural institutions.

The fulfillment of all these goals must be served by the appropriate organization of a logocratic or citizens’ association. The general principles of this organization will be specified in the second part of the constitution. The detailed rules of the association are to be laid down in its statutes, which are to be passed by the council of the association, approved by a vote of the members, and approved by parliament. The mandatory activities of the association will be the basis for subsidies from the state treasury, but it should also draw its funds from other sources and from membership fees. Individual donations should be tax deductible.

The local offices of the association must be large enough to elect at least one delegate to the council of the association. The council will have the same number of members as the national senate, and will consist of delegates elected by name. The council will meet annually in a secluded location, where the central offices of the association will also operate. The location of the main center of the association outside the political climate of the capital and its pressures should be friendly to the spirit of the organization.

Under these conditions, the council will elect an association speaker, a council chairman, and other permanent officers. The association’s Speaker should be elected for a relatively short period of time, preferably three years, and re-election would be inadvisable. Faster turnover in this position will prevent a leadership personality from developing and the association from becoming a political party. Rather, the position will be seen as a path and school that leads to further political roles in the country. The association will therefore often put forward its former speakers and activists as candidates for higher elective positions in the state.

In such a way, the organized logocratic association, whose existence derives from the laws of nature and the basic presuppositions of logocracy, would become a natural creative and stabilizing factor, an essential and characteristic organ of the proposed system.

Note: This work is a project of QFG/Red Pill Press and is planned to be published in book form.