ReThinking: Taking politicians out of politics with Hélène Landemore

This episode is supported by Harvard Business School Executive Education. Their programs create powerful connections for leaders around the world, strengthening both organizations and individuals by deepening existing relationships and fostering new ones. Participants leave with lifelong friends, new potential business partners, and a powerful globe spanning network of fellow change makers. Learn more at hbs.me/learn. That's hbs.me/learn. This episode is sponsored by Gab. We know that social media plays a role in today's youth mental health crisis. Teens now spend an average of nine hours a day on screens outside of school. That's essentially a full time job. But there's good news. There's a company called Gabb that's tackling the problem by doing something different. They're introducing tech in steps. Gabb's Kidsave phones and watches are designed specifically for growing kids, starting with GPS enabled watches for younger children and evolving into phones with more features for tweens and teens, all with strong parental controls. Bottom line, you don't have to hand your kid a device made for an adult. Give them Gab so they can stay connected safely. Visit gab.com/worklife and use code work life for a special offer. That's gabb.com/worklife. This message is brought to you by Apple Card. Apple Card members can earn unlimited daily cash back on everyday purchases wherever they shop. This means you could be earning daily cash on just about anything, like a slice of pizza from your local pizza place or a latte from the corner coffee shop. Apply for Apple Card in the Wallet app to see your credit limit offer in minutes. Subject to credit approval, Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Salt Lake City branch. Terms and more at applecard.com. In my ideal vision, yes, we are replacing elected officials with ordinary citizens for the purpose of legislation. And I understand it's a leap, but that's a leap that the Greeks did first. That's the real test of your faith in ordinary citizens. Hey, everyone. It's Adam Grant. Welcome back to Rethinking, my podcast with Ted on the science of what makes us tick. I'm an organizational psychologist, and I'm taking you inside the minds of fascinating people to explore new thoughts and new ways of thinking. Helene Landmore is a political scientist at Yale who studies democracy. She's written at length about the role everyday people can play in the politics that shape their lives, and she has a bold idea for fixing politics. In her new book, Politics Without Politicians, Alana argues that electoral politics is broken, but democracy is not. And she asked the question, what would it look like if we replace career politicians with citizen assemblies filled with people chosen by lot or lottery? It seems like a radical idea, but some countries and at least one US state have already started experimenting with it. I think what's scary for people is that when they think ordinary citizens for some reason, they they immediately go to, like, the most extreme people …