TOWARDS
CITIZEN-LED
DEMOCRACY
OPEN CAMPAIGN FOR UK
PARLIAMENTARY
GENERAL ELECTIONS
FRAME ONE
Setting the scene
Most politicians oppose strong democracy, the sort in which
the
electorate, citizens are able to participate effectively.
Once elected,
politicians want to be in charge without having to worry
about
interference by the people who elected them. The people's
view is that
a bit more control of politics and the ability to better
steer our own
public affairs would be good for all of us.
Many people feel that politics and government in Britain
do very
little
for them. A large majority agree with the essential
principle of direct
democracy,
that 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. This is a very effective way for the
electorate,
The People, to influence and guide what politicians do in
our name.
To obtain this reform we need straightforward guidelines
for the
new methods of democracy. We can model
them on other countries. The most obvious way to proceed
would be by
passing a law in parliament which provides working rules,
e.g. for the
citizens' law-proposal and veto-referendum.
To get a law like this passed we clearly need a majority
of MPs
in the
House of Commons. A bill would be presented by a political
party or a
group of convinced MPs.. How can the electorate, We The
People, arrange for the necessary majority to emerge? The
rapid answer
is "an
effective reform campaign". Some
ways to
do this have already been
published. One effective tactic is to show prospective MPs
that
they will ONLY be elected if they promise to support the
campaign, and
the direct democracy reform law in parliament. How can this
be done?
Here's the secret: In
the run-up period to elections we must approach candidates,
party
campaign offices and central offices, with the message
SUPPORT
PEOPLE-POWER
DEMOCRACY (PLEASE) OR LOSE MY VOTE !
