Re: [WDDM] Re: WDDM Membership Requirement

["M. Kolar" <wddm(at)mkolar.org>]

Dear Bruce and all!
   It is actually not clear what exactly have you proposed below (on Feb. 26),
and so my first reaction to that e-mail may also have been unclear.

   Were you proposing to adopt for our current purposes the WHOLE original FD
as published at
http://www.world-wide-democracy.net/archive/original_wddm/OriginalFoundingDoc.html
or only a part of it that you copied into your e-mail below?
That is only, the mission statement and the chapter 3 of the original FD
(membership rules), or even only Article 3.1 from Chapter 3? Please, clarify!

   Of course, I also without reservations agree with the Mission Statement of
the original FD, as probably most of the other present members of the WDDM.
I'll actually add it to the present Mission statement as published on WDDM home
page right away.

   But I believe that the rest of the original FD is to complicated and
impractical, and I am against it adoption as the acting rules for the present
WDDM. I much more prefer the recent short Charter proposal formulated by Mark
Antell.

    Mirek


Bruce Eggum wrote:

> Dear WDDM Members,
>
> I joined WDDM a year or so after it's founding. I was invited by another
> member, that is how it was done. I was given a copy of the FD and asked
> to study it. I signed a statement that I agreed with the FD and
> membership criteria. I was accepted by referendum two weeks later. As a
> WDDM Member I am responsible to follow the WDDM membership clause, which
> states to follow the WDDM FD.
>
> This WDDM FD has never been changed or thrown out. It has been neglected
> and overlooked.
>
> I suggest WDDM take up the original WDDM Founding Documents as
> established. Than, make any appropriate changes following the process
> provided which is Initiative and Referendum.
>
> We can do this now that we have a voting method. If you vote using the
> new method, that is endorsement of that method. If you disagree with the
> voting method, please immediately say so before the referendum.
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I WDDM member Bruce Eggum submit the following three Proposals:
>
> 1. MEMBERSHIP I here by PROPOSE that the WDDM MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA be as
> follows:
> " 3.1 Any individual, with sound mind and without a criminal record, can
> join our Movement by accepting our Founding Documents, Mission
> Statement, and the Membership Rules and Conduct."
>
> 2. WDDM FD I here by PROPOSE that the original WDDM FOUNDING DOCUMENTS
> be immediately adopted for the present WDDM and that any appropriate
> changes can be made with the rules within the FD.
>
> 3. I propose that consideration and discussion of this be done for a
> period of Four weeks, after which a Referendum will be held to accept or
> reject my proposals #1 Membership and #2. WDDM FD
> Bruce Eggum
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>     FOUNDING DOCUMENTS
>     WORLDWIDE DIRECT DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT, WDDM
>
> PREAMBLE
> We, members of the Continuing International Congress on Direct Democracy
> (CICDD) decided during our second Congress in Delphi, Greece, the
> birthplace of democracy, to establish a formal Worldwide Direct
> Democracy Movement. We dedicate ourselves to work toward the
> introduction of Direct Democracy (DD) into the representative systems,
> through Citizens Initiatives and Referendums, and, ultimately, transform
> them peacefully to true democracies of the people. We pledge ourselves
> to remain faithful to genuine democratic principles as expressed in our
> Mission Statement. We aim to inspire others to join us and help to
> develop principles and methods leading to direct democracy (DD) of the
> people. We have been and will remain dedicated members of CICDD and
> share our ideals and proposals with all participants in the Network,
> individuals, and families.
>
>
> MISSION STATEMENT
>
> We, members of the Worldwide Direct Democracy Movement, believe that all
> citizens have the right to directly perform lawmaking and other
> governmental functions in any polity in which they live. Therefore we
> seek to develop and promote any participatory processes which allow
> people to exercise their rights to make their own laws and/or manage
> their own governance.
>
> 1. WE BELIEVE IN THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES
>
> 1.1 People are sovereign, and they are the only legitimate authority to
> govern their society.
>
> 1.2 The power to formulate laws and policies must be vested directly in
> the People without representatives at all levels of societal life.
>
> 1.3 Every person have equal right and opportunity to participate in
> public affairs.
>
> 1.4 The people shall define major societal issues and policy
> alternatives when they are based on well-informed choices.
>
>     1.4.1 Public opinion can be easily influenced by vested interests
> and money. Therefore, we oppose such manipulations. Public debates must
> be factual, balanced, impersonal and non-manipulative.
>
>     1.4.2 Each issue must be presented and considered independently and
> its best alternative be selected strictly on its own merit.
>
> 1.5 Peoples Initiatives, backed by sufficient number of signatures,
> should mandate a binding Referendum and/or recall of unworthy
> representatives (I&R+R) decided by public vote.
>
> 1.6 Individuals and families must be made acquainted, from 'bottom up',
> with sensible educational tools to understand social morality, the
> common needs and interests of all, thereby, enable them to make
> knowledge-based societal policies.
>
> 1.7 We as 'Facilitators' shall endeavor to help citizens to setup
> Planning Cells, Citizen Juries, and Citizens Forums, as local bodies to
> supervise municipal and local administrations and public
> administrations. These 'Forums' will hear and attempt to settle issues,
> and if they cannot, then refer them either to the courts or to Citizens
> Parliaments.
>
> 1.8 We believe in and advocate peaceful and gradual transformation of
> society into genuine democracy.
>
> 1.9 We are against any form of aggression and violence, but we believe
> that the people must defend themselves, if and when, they are attacked.
>
> 1.10 We advocate respectful dialogue and constructive proposals.
>
> 1.11 Voting and gathering signatures can take place by secure electronic
> methods, therefore, we endeavor to have them legally established.
>
> 1.12 The results of public decisions will constitute the body of the law.
>
>
> Signed by International Coordinating Committee for the formalization of
> the Worldwide Direct Democracy Movement.
>
> 3. MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA
>
> 3.1 Any individual, with sound mind and without a criminal record, can
> join our Movement by accepting our Founding Documents, Mission
> Statement, and the Membership Rules and Conduct.
>
> 3.2 Initially, there is no membership fee, however, in the future, the
> members may vote for a membership fee.
>
> 3.3 Each member shall be a subscriber of the 'Newsletter'. A minimum US
> $20.00 donation is recommended for its upkeep.
>
> 3.4 An application for membership shall be posted by the Secretary for 2
> weeks for discussion. If none of the members oppose the application for
> membership, then the applicant shall be automatically adopted to be a
> member of WDDM.
>
> 3.5 When opposed during the two week discussion period, the Secretary
> shall 'post' the membership for voting for another 2-weeks. At the end
> of the voting period, the Secretary shall calculate and post the results.
>
> 3.6 If the majority decides that a Member violated our principles,
> contained in these 'Founding Documents', such person shall be expelled
> from our movement, and also, suffer legal consequences.
>
>
>
> http://www.world-wide-democracy.net/archive/original_wddm/OriginalFoundingDoc.html