Selection and Re-Selection in Stochastic Democracy

Abstract

Self-governance of space habitats using Stochastic Democracy is objective and corruption-resistant. Prior simulation studies compared Stochasticism with elitism, pure communism, and pure capitalism for long-duration ark ships, demonstrating superior outcomes for all individuals. Additional simulations explored resilience to decimation, and to rapid population growth, such as may be experienced by large space settlements. In this study, the initial population of a hierarchical governing structure is simulated, providing a procedure for start-up on Day 1. Furthermore, rules for re-selection are explored to provide a balance of fresh inputs and experienced leadership. A key tenet of Stochastic Democracy is preclusion of career politicians who can be unduly influenced by campaign contributions and unduly favored by redistricting (“gerrymandering”). However, preserving learning within a governmental hierarchy is valuable, so the re-selection process should include a means by which selected leaders either retain office or advance to greater levels of geographic and population responsibility. Staggering of terms is another important means by which some level of continuity of governance is retained. In this work, several alternatives are explored to provide a sense of the impacts of re-selection rules. It is conceivable that individual communities may vote on referenda which capture their preferences for re-selection rules and duration of terms. In this way, Stochastic Democracy becomes adaptable to the community sociology and to possible future changes in lifespan. This work completes earlier AIAA-published theoretical studies of this novel form of habitat self-governance.