This isn't something new. This is how society has functioned throughout history. Democracy is an ideal, but no country is truly democratic. Show me a country where the parliament or whatever legislative and executive bodies they have is truly made up of common people voted by their peers, and not part of the upper class.
Ireland has a political elite, like most other countries. However, many of our politicians are ordinary people too.. There are teachers, doctors, farmers etc mixed among the lawyers. Due to proportionak representative democracy, there are also one issue candidates who her elected for campaigning on things like special needs or other issues.
When K moved to Australia, I was quite surprised to find that nearly every politician was a lawyer by trade.
Norway
Bro we got a lot of career politicians that have had their families intrinsically tied to our political sphere for ages. Also we have an insane revolving door of people being in politics and doing "lobbying" depending on the way the wind blows. There was also a bigger article with the actual stats on how often this has happened but I can't find it. Anyway ..
I don't think Switzerland meets the definition given by @space@lemmy.dbzer0.com but there is the element of direct democracy, where any citizen can create a petition and if they get enough signatures it will go to a referendum, although ultimately it is up to the politicians to implement the results of the referenda.
This isn't something new. This is how society has functioned throughout history. Democracy is an ideal, but no country is truly democratic. Show me a country where the parliament or whatever legislative and executive bodies they have is truly made up of common people voted by their peers, and not part of the upper class.
Ireland has a political elite, like most other countries. However, many of our politicians are ordinary people too.. There are teachers, doctors, farmers etc mixed among the lawyers. Due to proportionak representative democracy, there are also one issue candidates who her elected for campaigning on things like special needs or other issues.
When K moved to Australia, I was quite surprised to find that nearly every politician was a lawyer by trade.
Norway
Bro we got a lot of career politicians that have had their families intrinsically tied to our political sphere for ages. Also we have an insane revolving door of people being in politics and doing "lobbying" depending on the way the wind blows. There was also a bigger article with the actual stats on how often this has happened but I can't find it. Anyway ..
From last year: https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/i/Qy6KXR/gullkortet-minst-50-med-fri-tilgang-jobber-med-aa-paavirke-politikere
Edit here it is: https://www.vg.no/spesial/2020/pr-politikk/
Switzerland
I don't think Switzerland meets the definition given by @space@lemmy.dbzer0.com but there is the element of direct democracy, where any citizen can create a petition and if they get enough signatures it will go to a referendum, although ultimately it is up to the politicians to implement the results of the referenda.