Re: View Direct Democracy to be established somewhere in the coming New Year !

["Jiri Polak" <jiri.polak(at)swipnet.se>]

Dear George,

I am very glad to hear from you again! The situation in Greece is very favorable for a democratization of the system. It is the result of incompetence and corruption of politicians, not of the people!! This should be stressed on every occasion. And politicians´ incompetence and corruption has been made possible by the non-democratic system which the politicians had established without any mandate. The basis of the system is the Constitution. I believe that, to democratize the system and thereby improve the people´s living conditions, it is necessary to adopt a People´s Constitution. In Czech Republic, there are at least two serious proposals of such a constitution, even in print. The basic principles are:

A valid constitution must be approved by referendum

Parliamentary elections must be performed on the basis of single-mandate election districts (not on party basis!)

Separation of legislative and executive power, while the latter must consist of non-partisan experts and be subject to the former

The right to citizens´ initiative and decision-making referendum at all levels

The I&R must be complemented by advisory deliberative structures and processes (Citizen Juries, Planning Cells or Scientific deliberative polling)

Direct election of a head of state

Possibility of recall at any moment

Politicians´ fees and emoluments should be decided upon by independent citizen commissions.

In Czech Republic, a preliminary poll has shown that more than 98 % of citizens approve these principles. I guess the result would be similar in Greece. I suggest you put these principles for discussion and, if backed by the vast majority, as can be expected, force the parliament to organize a referendum.

Sincerely,       

                                          Jiri Polak

From: ΔΙΚΗΓΟΡΙΚΟ ΓΡΑΦΕΙΟ Γ. Λ. ΚΟΚΚΑ & ΣΥΝΕΡΓΑΤΩΝ

Sent: Monday, December 31, 2012 5:33 AM

To: wddm@world-wide-democracy.net

Cc: geoko(at)otenet.gr ; 'Giannis Dimitrokalis' ; andreiotis(at)yahoo.gr ; 'dorilaos klapakis' ; 'Stavros IONIDIS' ; 'Simone Le Baron' ; Constantine Grapsas ; 'ΚΩΣΤΟΠΟΥΛΟΥ ΕΛΕΝΗ'

Subject: RE: View Direct Democracy to be established somewhere in the coming New Year !

Dear DD colleagues all over this world!

A dozen of years passed since we established WDDM ( Worldwide Direct Democracy Movement, www.world-wide-democracy.net ) in Athens and Delphi, Greece and we have not an example of a modern  functional Direct Democratic system in any country of the world yet, even if we had  recently the “revolutions?” of Tunis, Egypt, Libya etc.

I think that Greece could offer such a chance, of a great change of its political system in the coming tomorrow New Year 2013 and the preparation of such a development  here in my country  was the cause of my relative absence internationally during the last two years. I ask for your excuses because of the lack of information in English from the part of  Greek Direct Democratic Movement, as our struggle locally was tremendous during this horrible crisis against Greek people and we spent our time for preparations! Now is the time to ask for your assistance to make it happen!

We established a New Citizens-Parliament called DIMOVOULIO POLITON ( The Citizens’ Will ) and we try to fulfill a Citizens’ Constitution next March according to the meanings of the speech I gave in San Fransisco since two years in our International Forum (http://www.dimopolis.gr/dp1/ektos/pagosmio-kinims-amesis-dimokratias/istoria/170-globalforumdirdemsf2010 ). Then we plan to put this text before a Citizens Referendum for approval, even if we will use an electronic voting of Greek people, independently of the current Constitutional provisions and we need your evidence for this practice, in the fields of technological methods, as well as for the content of out new Constitutional text.

Therefore, we ask for your proposals for a modern DD Constitution that could make Greece again the cradle of Modern Direct Democracy, overcoming its current crisis!

Please accept our warmest wishes for the New Year 2521 ( after Democratic Revolution of Cleisthenes in ancient Athens! 508 B.C. )

Best regards 

George L. Kokkas

N.G.O Forum for Citizens’ Democracy

Ippokratous str. 42 – GR-10680 Athens

Greece

Tel.: +30 2103648300 - Fax: +30 2103610882

geoko(at)otenet.gr

www.dimopolis.gr

From: Ted Becker [BECKETL(at)auburn.edu]
Sent: Saturday, December 29, 2012 8:12 PM
To: wddm@world-wide-democracy.net
Subject: RE: View Direct Democracy South Africa

Thank you Jim. You are to be congratulated and are definitely on the right track. I assume I am on your list due to WDDM, right?

Two things. First, I don't think you are right that your system is a "dictatorship." I think you'd be closer to the truth that it is a "Single Party Oligarchy."

Second, why not link to my book's website at http://www.last-lost-empire.com and particularly its current blog pages. I think you'll find some new ideas there that might intrigue you.

Keep up the good fight.

Ted

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From: Comtrend [comtrend(at)mweb.co.za]
Sent: Saturday, December 29, 2012 12:07 AM
To: wddm@world-wide-democracy.net
Subject: View Direct Democracy South Africa

Please view www.directdemocracy.org.za

Your comments will be appreciated

Regards

Jim Powell