Hi All,
I believe that the only Direct Democracy in action at all levels
in a country is Switzerland.
The system seems to work very well, they have avoided wars, have
a good quality of life and standard of living.
These are my impressions an opinions formed from the information
I have gathered.
Should we not make Switzerland our model and engage with their Government
and particularly Foreign Affairs for assistance and guidance?
My guess is that Switzerland has succeeded because decisions are
made by the voters which will focus on family values.
Regards
Jim Powell
From: Vijayaraghavan
Padmanabhan [vijayaraghavan.p(at)rediffmail.com]
Sent: 29 Feb 2008 08:38 AM
To: wddm@world-wide-democracy.net
Subject: Re: RE: [WDDM] Fwd: RE:LINK.
Dear all,
The past few opinions on whether we should link up with a peace initiative
highlights the key problems facing WDDM.
Nicholas Durand has pointed out that we should be concerned with promoting
Direct Democracy rather than peace, human rights, gender equality etc. This
raises the philosophical question - whether promoting Direct Democracy is
synonymous with promoting these human values. Taking a broad view and if we
speak from the heart it is 'yes'. This is why Nicholas himself says he is for
peace at the end of his post. However there is always the tendency to allow the
mind to supercede the heart and make it the deciding authority. Inevitably the
mind sees several issues in it and wants to tackle each one separately and not
mix them up together.
If only if we think and act from our heart then then we would tend to integrate
matters. Problems would tend to get simplified rather than multiplied. Blind
faith is also dangerous. An enlightened approach is needed. Georges
Metanomski's caution is worth noting. However everything in this world is
action and reaction. If only there is an enlightened focus on peace then the agressiveness
of the action-reaction cycle would come down paving the way for lasting peace.
PVR
On Thu, 28 Feb 2008 Nicolas Durand wrote :
>Dear all,
>
>I also support the idea of using our normal decisional process.
>
>But this raises an interesting concept issue (and you know that I am an
>endless supporter of peace):
>Who should we partner with?
>
>If a neo-Nazi party wants to send a petition to the UN to commemorate
>Hitler's death date, will we support this?
>
>I take an extreme example to make my point: our aim is to promote direct
>democracy, not peace, human rights, gender equality and the like.
HOPEFULLY,
>the people will WANT peace, human rights, gender equality, etc., but is it
>really up to US to promote these values?
>
>We could have a "current petitions" links page with all DD
real-world
>examples, but then, we must be ready to put ALL DD initiatives on it.
>
>Just my opinion. Again, I want peace as well!
>
>Take care,
>
>Nico
>
>-----Original Message-----
> From: mantell [antell_m(at)verizon.net]
>Sent: jeudi, 28. février 2008 06:24
>To: wddm@world-wide-democracy.net; wddm(at)mkolar.org; Nicolas
>Durand; George L. Kokkas Law Office
>Subject: Re: [WDDM] Fwd: RE:LINK.
>
>Hello Mirek,
>I like your idea. I'll support it.
>But I'd like to use our normal decisional process. Why not do this by a
>vote of the executive board? If the executive board buys the idea
>quickly, then we could act immediately thereafter. Passage by the
>executive board would normally be followed by a membership-wide
>referendum to validate the executive board action more permanently.
>So, I recommend that we use our charter mechanism for action. It would
>be the right thing, both for this issue, and for dealing with future
>issues.
>Mark
>
>
>
>----------------------------------------
>Miroslav Kolar wrote:
> > Do you have any objections to join the WDDM site into the network of
> > global peace activists suggested by http://www.peace365.org ? :
> >
> >
> > ----- Forwarded message from marekmzielinski(at)hotmail.co.uk -----
> > Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:57:55 +0000
> > From: marek zielinski
> > Subject: RE:LINK.
> >
> >
> > Dear Peace Activists,
> >
> > Would there be any obstacle to link our web-sites together
> >
> > since the aims of activities of our organizations lead the the same
goal:
> >
> > GLOBAL PEACE FOREVER,
> >
> > Please send me a .jpg form of your organization's Logo
> >
> > In Peace
> >
> > Marek Zielinski
> >
> > Initiator of www.peace365.org
> > _________________________________________________________________
> >