| From: | Bruce Eggum <bruce.eggum(at)gmail.com> |
|---|---|
| Date: | Fri, 4 Jan 2013 12:45:50 -0600 |
| Subject: | Re: View Direct Democracy to be established somewhere in the coming New Year ! |
There are only a small percentage of folks that have the time to follow politics and have "views". However these activists can bring discussion in the community. I suggest that this percentage of activists also have the ability to write proposals and the most popular could than be submitted to Referendum and voted on by all electors. This would be a valid decision, verified by all voters. We must begin with those we have now. Bruce
Wars have nothing to do with democracy, security, women's rights, peace or stability. They are fought for money and power and nothing else.
@BruceEggum
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
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