============================================================================
IR+R NEWS - news about democratic reform, citizens' initiative,
referendum, recall of elected officials. A service of
Citizens' Initiative and Referendum I&R ~ GB
===============================================================
October 2009
IN THIS NEWSLETTER THERE ARE THREE ITEMS ::::::::::::::::::::
1) MP3 AUDIO: DAVID CAMERON PROMISES CITIZEN-LED DEMOCRACY NATIONAL
AND LOCAL
2) CITIZEN-LED DEMOCRACY IS
ESSENTIAL FOR SUSTAINABLE
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
3) LOCAL GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHMENT OPPOSED TO MORE DEMOCRACY
---------------------
MP3 AUDIO: DAVID CAMERON PROMISES CITIZEN-LED DEMOCRACY NATIONAL
AND
LOCAL
In a recent BBC radio
broadcast David Cameron, Leader of the Conservative Party, may be
heard saying that the citizens' right to
initiate a referendum would also be brought in at country/state
level.
(Source: BBC radio 4. Beyond Westminster: The case for replacing or
revising our system of representative democracy. September 2009). A
sound clip may be
heard or loaded down here CAMERON
---------------------
CITIZEN-LED
DEMOCRACY IS ESSENTIAL FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
EXTRACT FULL
ARTICLE
In almost all modern states there is a clear distinction
between
constitutional and other law. Commonly, it is more difficult to change
constitution. For instance, a "super-majority" of elected
representatives may be required and an indication of regional consensus
needed. These measures serve to indicate how importantly constitution
is
regarded. There are very good reasons to distinguish constitutional
from
other law and to treat it with more care.
For decades, across the world, it has been accepted and practised that
only an electorate -- The People -- may enact a state constitution. In
many countries, a number of them in Europe, NO change can be made to
state constitution unless (a) the electorate has been informed and
consulted (b) a broad and extended public debate has been enabled and
organised (c) a referendum (plebiscite) has been held for the final
decision. READ
MORE
--------------------
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHMENT OPPOSED TO MORE DEMOCRACY
In recent decades government and opposition have competed in offering
suggestions to improve involvement of voters, citizens, in running
public affairs. Most people (shown by research) regard voting in an
election once every few years to be a very poor way of taking part. In
surveys over 70 percent of adults approve that an agreed large number
of voters should be able to trigger a referendum on any public issue.
Local government officials and politicians have voiced strong
opposition to the introduction of citizens' initiatives which could
lead to plebiscite, that is a referendum which can overrule the
council. NLGN* appears to echo and amplify this fear, which is partly
attributable to unfamiliarity with the procedures of citizen-led
democracy. The "alternative" offered by NLGN resembles a petition. The
council is not obliged to enact on the proposal and no referendum of
the electorate is foreseen. This would make voter frustration even
worse.
In democratic governance, if a vote is needed, there will usually be
winners (majority) and losers (minority). These change profile from
issue to issue. (Consensus is by no means excluded.) By claiming that
minority rights will be abused if the electorate gains more say, NLGN
unjustifiably raises fear. Which scenario of abuse do you predict?
We replied to a similar article at the web site of "Public Service" at
http://www.publicservice.co.uk/news_story.asp?id=10593
More about citizen-led democracy may be found via our web site
www.iniref.org
--------------
I&R ~ GB
*NLGN = New Local Government Network
A reply to http://www.progressonline.org.uk/Magazine/article.asp?a=4682
Community proposal. Tory plans for local referendums need more thought.
08 September 2009
=============================================
I&R ~ GB Citizens' Initiative and Referendum
Campaign for direct democracy in Britain
http://www.iniref.org/
Discuss or comment at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/democracy-forum
Donate via http://www.iniref.org/index2.html