How to prevent centralization of power?

If we think about new types of political decision-making, with an explicit emphasis on extending representative democracy (i.e. electing people) with social cohesion, community building, participative budgeting etc.: How can we avoid falling into the same trap as the Soviets did, where Lenin’s focus on violence and killing the “bourgeoisie” has been their downfall from the beginning?

That is, how can we, as a society, be vigilant regarding when unhealthy power and decision structures emerge, structures which create routine instead of innovation?

It requires a special type of attention, plus a special type of conversation culture. The “culture” of the rooms where this could be feasibly enacted must be a culture of very open feedback, not compromise but unity, especially between humans. Humans fall into routines very quickly, and acted out over generations, these routines become enforced symbols of a kind of “inherited” virtue, but one that just bathes in its own vanity, without any connection to the real world.

It requires a culture where we never need to “swallow down” when we don’t like something, but can openly talk about it. Of course this wouldn’t work in every space, because if e.g. in a public space like a library, everyone would openly say their truth, that would be complete chaos, because so many people are so dull, sad, angry and hateful on the inside. This is a public health issue not yet broadly enough addressed.

It effectively requires having a type of room where the people have gotten rid of their taboos. It’s a sort of “extended” freedom of speech, where you are openly encouraged to say things that you have in your mind and that might make others comfortable, to not be artificially polite.

Question authority. Only when they become angry, it becomes interesting.