| From: | "Mark Antell, editor CitizenPowerMagazine.net" <citizenp(at)citizenpowermagazine.net> |
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| Date: | Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:43:36 -0400 |
| Subject: | A few recent releases on direct democracy |
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May I mention a few useful recent releases on direct democracy? #1. Mike Gravel calls for a new Declaration of Independence, 2008 http://www.gravel2008.us/front Mike is, of course, a shining light in the direct democracy (DD) movement. His central call for over a quarter decade has been for a NI4D. In this professionally produced YouTube speech Mike puts forward a gripping, and yet logical explanation why we need DD in the US. A little more background on Mike: He has got political creds. He was the US senator back in the 70's who released the entire ‘Pentagon Papers,’ a document which showed how information on the war in Vietnam had been doctored, spun, or created to support the war effort. Recently he ran a shoestring, but real, campaigns for the Democratic Party nomination, and then the Libertarian Party nomination, for US President. #2. The Center for Governmental Studies has released Democracy by Initiative, a review of the history and experience DD in California. Most excitingly Democracy by Initiative provides excellent suggestions on how the process can be improved with a heavy emphasis on ...... deliberation! Advocates of direct democracy should read this book. No excuses! It’s free on the internet (www.cgs.org). #3. Finally, I direct your attention to, Direct Democracy: Facts, Arguments and Experiences on the Introduction of Initiative and Referendum, by Verhulst and Nijeboer. This book, released last year, has a worldwide perspective on DD. It is perhaps most exciting in its discussion of the underlying philosophy of DD. This is a useful read. Again, no excuses. It’s free @ http://www.democracy-international.org/book-direct-democracy.html You can catch my recent interview with Mike Gravel, plus a bit more about Democracy by Initiative and Direct Democracy: Facts Arguments and Experiences in the current issue of CitizenPowerMagazine.net. Mark Antell, editor CitizenPowerMagazine.net |