Help my wife identify this sci-fi short story

[120inna55]

My wife read a sci-fi short story several years ago that involved a future war in which the people voted for every military/governmental action.

Does this ring any bells for anyone?

 

[primestar31]

My wife read a sci-fi short story several years ago that involved a future war in which the people voted for every military/governmental action.

Does this ring any bells for anyone?

[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_Troopers"]Starship Troopers - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:St59.jpg" class="image"><img alt="St59.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/ff/St59.jpg/170px-St59.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@en/thumb/f/ff/St59.jpg/170px-St59.jpg[/ame]

Which is also a pretty good movie, that is, the first one is... The sequels aren't that good.

 

[120inna55]

Starship Troopers - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Which is also a pretty good movie, that is, the first one is... The sequels aren't that good.

No, that's not it. It's probably less mainstream than that one. I thought of that one, too. Thanks, though.

IIRC, Starship Troopers proposes that only military service entitles full citizenship and thus only those who've served in the military have the right to vote or hold public office.

The story to which my wife is referring involves all people and that no decisions are made by the government, but rather all decisions (especially military) are voted on by the people--even military strategies, etc.

 

[Juan]

Are you sure that wasn't an episode from one of the star trek series? (I'm thinking TNG)

 

[120inna55]

No, she assures me it was a Sci-Fi short story, of which she's read many. Hence the reason she can't narrow it down.

 

[fleetfarmer]

It was pretty funny in STARSHIP troopers when they were fighting the bugs on the ground and all the people were getting slaughtered. What kind of idiot would decide it's a great idea to fight an enemy like this face-to-face?

 

[jayn_j]

Actually Heinlein devotes several paragraphs to explaining that citizenship and voting doesn't kick in until the term of service has been completed. He actually uses the example of what if the company voted not to fight as the reason why soldiers didn't vote.

I have been stumped as well. Thought of The Forever War, but that isn't it either. I think Heinlein talked about a group that voted on everything and how they no longer existed in Time Enough for Love, but it was one of Lazarus Long's stories, and not direct action.

 

[120inna55]

She found it in her May 2002 issue of Asimov's Science Fiction.

A Champion of Democracy
by Tom Purdom.

Synopsis: Warfare is being enacted on a micro- level on the lunar surface between warring political factions. A genetically enhanced child genius is pitted against a scheming, conniving politician Earth-side who will stoop to whatever low trick is required to get his way. His cunning ploy here is the use of democratic voting to determine military strategy.

Complete story here: "A Champion of Democracy" by Tom Purdom

I appreciate everyone's input. It was driving her crazy!!!