'Lottocracy' is a system where political representation is determined randomly. Is this a better system than democracy? We discuss the shortcomings of current electoral democracies, including the influence of media and special interests, and examine innovative models like deliberative democracy and specialized legislative structures. How should we balance between expertise and random selection, and combat elite influence and corruption?

00:00 Introduction to the Thought Experiment
00:52 Moral Obligations in Crisis
05:14 Challenges of Political Institutions
06:51 Electoral Democracy vs. Lottocracy
14:44 Implementing Lottocracy
21:15 Potential Issues and Objections
29:20 Ensuring Representative Participation
36:41 Challenges of Single Party Dominance
37:32 Risks of Random Selection in Politics
38:39 Expertise and Agenda Setting
46:55 Corruption and Influence in Politics
55:34 Social Pressure and Decision Making

Presenters: Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff
Editor and Producer: Ella Coleman Brain in a Vat bookshop Podcast: https://anchor.fm/braininavat