[GJM] Fw: Direct democracy works: How to achieve reform/PRINTEDITION

[mary rose]

IMHO, Democracy is but mob rule.  It does not demand that voters
be informed on issues and most vote from self-interest only, not in
"the best interests of all concerned."   

And, how McPhearson comes up with the idea that the U.S is a 
direct democracy is completly beyond me.  . 

We need a new system that serves us better. 

mary rose 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: robert searle 
To: discussion at globaljusticemovement.net 
Sent: Monday, May 19, 2008 9:46 AM
Subject: Re: [GJM] Direct democracy works: How to achieve reform/PRINTEDITION




      --- On Mon, 19/5/08, Michael Macpherson <mm at iniref.org> wrote:

        From: Michael Macpherson <mm at iniref.org>
        Subject: Direct democracy works: How to achieve reform/PRINT EDITION
        To: "Economist" <letters at economist.com>
        Date: Monday, 19 May, 2008, 5:05 PM


        Dr. Michael Macpherson,
        9, Pit Farm Road, 
        Guildford, 
        Surrey
        GU1 2JH

        Tel. 01483 538419

        The Editor,
        The Economist,
        25 St James's Street, 
        London
        SW1A 1HG

        FOR THE PRINT EDITION

        Dear Sir,

        A reply to "When voters want a say" May 1st 2008

        In The Economist of 17th June 1995 about "The future of democracy" we read,

        "Done with care, direct democracy works. The more political responsibility ordinary people are given, the more responsibly most of them will vote. This helps to produce something closer to true government by the people. And that, after all, is the way the logic of the 20th century points. If democrats have spent much of the century telling fascists and communists that they ought to trust the people, can democrats now tell the people themselves that this trust operates only once every few years?"

        Now almost thirteen years later the same journal, which has offered us several excellent articles about direct democracy during this interval, informs us that since around 1990 the people of Germany have experienced significant advances in participative governance by introducing the citizens' initiative and referendum-on-demand.

        Over this time, which reforms of direct democracy have we in the UK, its countries, cities and towns, been able to benefit from? The answer is "Almost none at all". Probably the only exception is the option of citizens' initiative (proposal) in the matter of elected town mayors and council structure. Beyond this, we subjects have gained no rights to propose and decide on laws and veto those of which we disapprove. A few country-level referenda have been held but only because the government decided to permit them. Pertinent detail about british democracy and its deficits may be found in a report available in print and on-line*.

        Why has there been so little progress in the UK?

        One lesson to be learned from other places where direct democracy has flourished for decades, such as the USA, Switzerland and recently Germany, is that in order to succeed this reform need a strong and "purpose-built" campaign in order to mobilise public support and overcome the resistance of politicians and some (but not all) established "elite" groups. Proposals, arguments for reform and a campaign-call may be found at www.iniref.org, the website of I&R ~ GB.

        * Macpherson M.J. Citizens’ initiative and referendum in Britain and Northern Ireland 2007: Prospects for reform. Europa-Magazin 1/2007, pp 17-20. http://europa-magazin.ch/zone/.3bb51286/cmd.14/cert.201.A0J0awU8Zxh.2


        Yours,





        Dr. Michael Macpherson 
        B.Sc.Hons., M.B., Ch.B., M.R.C.P. (UK)












     



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