Simply giving away your vote
at a general election once every few years, then having no say during
the years between, cannot be regarded as effective democracy.
In contrast partial direct democracy enables every
citizen to take part in developing policy and deciding
important public issues while keeping tabs on MPs and
government. The "tools" for this have been tried and tested
–
they
include the law-proposal, the veto-referendum, the constitutional
referendum
and
the recall of elected officials.
Politicians are in the main opposed to this type of democracy.
Parties
and government act to hinder reform so to achieve progress
will need lobbying and campaigning.
Surveys
confirm that a large majority of people in Britain approve the
essential principle of direct
democracy: An agreed number of voters should be able to put forward a
proposal
and demand a referendum about it. This reform would give us "partial
direct democracy" – parliament and government would continue to
function much as before, doing most of the work of running the country.
From time to time though, on some public issues which we select, the
electorate would take over responsibility to decide a matter of law or
constitution directly.
Below we will show that, however you judge our politicians and
governments, you can help to promote the
introduction of new democratic tools such as citizens' law proposal,
the veto referendum plus the MP-recall.
Let's say that your
intention is:
1) I will not vote in the
forthcoming election
According to a survey of over 1000 declared non-voters a large
majority felt that if direct democracy for citizens were available then
they would make use of it (no sign of apathy here).
3) I am undecided about
whether to vote or not. I know of no political party which represents
my wishes
From our review of
manifestos and their public statements we are not convinced that any
political party with a chance of gaining power would introduce the
genuine citizen-led democracy which we propose. Even though
three-quarters of adults (in repeated opinion surveys) approve. When
the "powers that be" oppose reform, much can be achieved by campaigning
and protest.
May the best
ideas and arguments, not the slickest and richest operators, win the
general election!
......................................
P.S.
CHOOSE
A
SYMBOL
... to show your support for democracy. Carry or wear it on POLLING
DAY. Take one of the following or send us your suggestion ...
A "measured" rose was chosen by the artist Joseph Beuys for the direct
democracy campaign which he founded in the 1970s, "For The People's
Referendum". The campaign was successful and is still going strong!
A flower of the people, the dandelion carries DD (direct democracy) in
its name. It should flower in May, is widely available and inexpensive!
May blossom. Could the hawthorn become a symbol of democratic
renewal? Politicians beware of the hidden thorns, should you
scorn the people's wishes.
___________________________________________
WE ASKED
Is there a better symbol for
CITIZEN-LED DEMOCRACY? Send your suggestion to info AT iniref.org
Paul Nollen replied from
OPSTAND der
BURGERS to suggest this symbol:
___________________________________________
ELECTION
CAMPAIGN FOR DEMOCRACY PAGES
OPEN
ELECTION-CAMPAIGN
STRATEGY FRAME ONE
Setting the scene
OPEN
ELECTION-CAMPAIGN
STRATEGY FRAME TWO
The election-campaign plan-of-action
MPs and CANDIDATES HOW TO
CONTACT
YOUR
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
PRINT THE
CANDIDATE/MP STATEMENT
VIEW CANDIDATE/MP DOCUMENT
BACKGROUND
ELECTION BLOG
