I think he wants to tinker, and learn more about how they work. What I neglected to mention is that he's already learned to program (developing Android apps, and he's also learned Python). He is a very bright and curious kid.
> That matters because fusion research, with no risk of runway chain reactions and producing vastly less radioactive waste, is being conducted under existing regulations by individual states, rather than the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
I have thought quite a bit about this over the past few of years, and I think it is probably the best method for replacing elected officials at least up to the senate level.
"Being able to select adequately competent participants can be a challenge depending on your source pool, and some point there would need to be a fair process, resistant to manipulation or gaming, in order to cull less qualified individuals."
I agree that it will initially be a challenge to find 'competent participants', but I think this can be solved by introducing/adding courses at the high-school level that the community/citizens believe are essential (I am thinking econ, history, the constitution, etc.)
I also agree that fairness is another an important issue - care must be taken to ensure that whatever 'competence' criteria are used don't turn into another poll-tax.
"There also exists problems with this method in highly polarized political environments, particular those in which exists two entirely separate information ecosystems such as the US."
Another excellent point. But I think we all have family members and friends who hold views that are the complete opposite of our own, or we may view are extreme, but we also find other issues we agree on and find ways to work/live together.
I think if a congressperson knows that they don't have to raise money or worry about a primary challenge, then I believe they will find ways to work with people from a different party, or colleagues who are independents.
The separate information systems will still be there, but I don't believe their influence on legislators will be at the level it is now.
```ruby
if (user = User.find_by(email: '[email protected]'))
end
```
Is it better to do this instead?
```ruby
user = User.find_by(email: '[email protected]')
user.update(status: 'active') if user.present?
```