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

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

Hello,
I agree with the standpoint expressed by Fred. To force parliamentary (and
other) candidates to sign a contract with the citizens as a condition for
obtaining their votes is a step in the right direction and a great
improvement of the political process.  The question is whether all or most
citizens will be sufficiently active to insist on this condition.  This is
the same principle as that put forward by Simpol. It would be interesting to
hear about the degree to which the men in the street participate in this
movement. As I wrote, I consider the pushing through a referendum about a
Citizens´ Constitution as the fundamental strategy. The signing of contracts
with citizens might be a preliminary step.  In a critical situation -
collapse of the economy, large scale environmental catastrophies.... -
scenarios not unthinkable today - more radical steps might be imagined, e.g.
occupation of the Parliament. Recently, American activists have demonstrated
willingness to have recourse even to such measures. In the end, they might
prove indispensable.
Sincerely,                     Jiri


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From: "Fred Gohlke" <fredgohlke(at)verizon.net>
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2013 4:05 PM
To: <wddm@world-wide-democracy.net>
Subject: Re: View Direct Democracy to be established somewhere in the coming
New  Year !

> Good Morning, Jim
>
> First and foremost, I must express my admiration for the work you've done.
> Your success in getting political candidates to sign a contract that
> commits them to genuine public service is remarkable.  It provides a root
> from which progress can evolve.  Your work is, indeed, a move in the right
> direction.  I hope others follow your lead.
>
> My own efforts are directed toward understanding and addressing the
> obstacles to democracy.  We have no shortage of competent, principled
> individuals who are interested and informed enough to properly advocate
> the public interest.  The challenge is to find them and raise them to
> public office.
>
> Once we transcend the arrogance of those political theorists who are so
> blinded by their own brilliance they are unable to see the many talented
> individuals around them, once we realize we have no shortage of gifted
> people with integrity, the road to viable democracy is less unclear and we
> can start to sketch a few basic requirements for a democratic political
> process.
>
> The kind of fundamental reform I seek is likely to take root in small
> communities victimized by traditional politics.  I've had the good fortune
> to be asked to describe a democratic method of empowering all the
> inhabitants of a small village in El Salvador.  Should that happen and
> other small communities adopt a similar process, the concepts will spread
> to larger communities.
>
> The fact that I'm taking a different path does not mean I can't appreciate
> the value of your work.
>
> Fred