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DIRECT DEMOCRACY (WDD)

A Detective Megastory:
The Corrupt Poirot Syndrome (cont.)

Historians tell us that the origin of modern political science is the German Allgemeine Staatslehre (General Science of the State). The subject of analyses was the State as an abstract legal entity. The citizens had nothing to do with it. Then came so called Realism which deals with power relations among states, represented and embodied by their leaders. The best known adherent of this approach is Henry Kissinger, former US Foreign Minister. Obviously, in this perspective, the citizens cannot have any say. Finally came the System Theories (structural functionalism, Easton's input-output, Deutsch's cybernetic model). In this perspective, political and social systems are considered as a sort of impersonal organisms obeying some sort of biological or mechanical, rather than political rules. This being so, politicians can hardly be blamed for anything. As anybody, they are supposed to be victims of the laws of nature. In the system theories, the citizens still have no say.

True, there is also Marxism which has become kosher. Radical Marxists are now allowed to teach at some Western universities. But this is because Marxism, even if containing some elements of truth, has proved to be mostly incorrect and, consequently, innocuous. As everybody knows, in Marxism, the citizens as individuals have no say. Politics is about classes, parties, class struggle, etc. No harm done to the establishment.

The most telling expression of oligarchic arrogance is the infamous game theory, in the period of the Cold War used by American strategists for (as they believed) better cheating the Soviets. The game theory conceives world politics as a game played by two players only. In its graphic presentation, decision-making on the American side is, to some extent, hampered by the voting system pictured as a sort of appendix, annoying but not really relevant. So this is what's it all about! A game played with millions of innocent lives whose only right is to let themselves be slaughtered like cattle. How dare they!

There is a striking difference between all typical branches of science and the discipline called (mainstream) political "science". A biologist can be willing to test unknown poisons on his own body. Many doctors do not hesitate to expose themselves to all sorts of risks, staying for years among poor African people. Explorers dive among sharks or penetrate into hostile jungles, perilous arctic regions and dreary savannas inhabited by deadly snakes, tse-tse flies and man-eating lions. Well paid mainstream political scientists sit in their cosy offices, drink coffee and have fun inventing irrelevant theories exonerating their masters from the worst atrocities known to history. However, increasingly, inconvenient anomalies undermine the mythology pretending that Western, purely representative systems, glorified by mainstream political science, are true democracies. In the midst of the bogus normal "science", a new, revolutionary science is taking shape.

True political science must be a fighting science, a passion. True political scientists must be imbued with the same spirit as a John Hus who, in 1415, chose to be burned alive rather than revoking his faith betrayed by churchly opportunists. True political science must not shun uncovering the real culprits, guilty of killing millions of innocent people in the name of empty slogans, such as "patriotism", "freedom", "democracy", "socialism", "justice", "racial purity", "religion" and what not. True political science must get rid of the Corrupt Poirot Syndrome and become real science, even if there is no money in it. Money has never played any major role in scientific progress. The main motive force has always been curiosity, compassion and conscience. So even today.

(to be continued)

Nemesis approaching?

Global Outlook http://www.GlobalOutlook.ca 
Read this excellent magazine! The issue No. 12 has 185 pages!

http://www.gravel2008.us

22 July, information from Mr.Tomas Franke: "The Youtube.com server decided to support Sen.Mike Gravel's presidential campaign. On http://www.youtube.com/gravel2008/ it will be possible to download all future speeches delivered by the Senator and his answers to the questions most frequently asked on his website. Sen.Gravel's speeches can thus be followed by anybody in the world who has an internet capacity of at least 64Kb/s."

August 2007: Mr.Lee Gottlieb has updated his website www.voicesfordd.com
The new version contains Chapters for Change. Introduction see below:

CHAPTERS FOR CHANGE
OPERATING POLICIES

LET US UNDERSTAND FROM THE VERY BEGINNING 
WHAT CHAPTERS FOR CHANGE IS ALL ABOUT, 
SO WILL BE NO DISSENSION OR SURPRISES AT A LATER DATE

Purpose of the Chapters for Change system of organization
Chapters for Change is structured to enforce the truths that ordinary people can plan and direct their own lives, can find must behave like mature adults and make their own decisions, and can and must get along with other groups of people (Chapters) by discussion, deliberation, and where necessary, compromise, because violence and war are childish, destructive, and stupid.
In short, the system of organisation is structured to accustom people to function as mature citizens in a real democracy, and guide them to success in trans­forming the U.S. political system from a pseudo-democracy to a true democracy.

Each Chapter shall have no more than fifteen members
Small groups allow every member to voice his or her perspectives on every perspectives on every issue. Chapters should remain snail enough to have meetings in a home. Large meetings in public places may, under certain circumstances, invite interference by the Establishment. During the early 20th century, it was not unusual for the Establishment to place moles inside labor unions or activist groups to incite unlawful action, consequent imprisonment, and worst of all, a bad public image.
Chapters threaten the continued rule of the Establishment, which certainly will attempt to place moles inside the Chapter system, wherever possible, or even start its own Chapters. Always keep in mind that membership is based upon a desire for change, and be suspicions of any member who is too argumentative, negative, and divisive. The same can be said of it contrary Chapter.

Each Chapter shall have a Captain who is responsible for the operation and vitality of the Chapter
Initially, the person who activates Chapter shall function as its Captain. Should he or she not feel qualified, or should the members believe another member would make a more efficient Captain, the members have the responsibility - and the freedom - to elect their own Captain. A Captain possesses no authority over other members and no greater vote.. He or she merely guides the Chapter as recommended by State Central.

Recently, Mr.Lee Gottlieb has also created and distributed a new disk. See below!
A highly recommendable reading!

Recently, Mr.Lee Gottlieb has also created and distributed a new disk. See below!
A highly recommendable reading!

Table of Contents

A story of human courage and cowardice, misused opportunities and wasted potentials, human ignorance and unfulfilled dreams, and reasons why the American people should transform their pseudo-democracy into a true democracy, and how they can do it.

17 June, a letter received from Mr.Lee Gottlieb: "The Nevada state constitution requires citizens wishing to place an issue on the ballot to collect valid signatures ´equal to 10 percent or more of the number of voters who voted at the last preceding general election.´ But for many years the state forced petitioners to reach the 10 percent in EACH of the 13 of the 17 Nevada counties. This meant the smallest county had as much political clout as the largest. In 2004, a U.S. District Court judge rejected that requirement as being unconstitutional.

The 2007 State legislature, however, has just passed a bill into law requiring petitioners to collect signatures in all 17 counties using a bizarre mathematical formula. Example: Esmaralda County contains 0.0005 percent of the state. If petitioners fail to obtain 30 votes in this county, even should they obtain every other Nevada voter's signature, the petition would fail to qualify for the ballot.

Talk about politicians fearing the will of the people!"

24 August, a letter sent round by Jared Polis for Congress (excerpt): "Did you know there are more than 60 lobbyists for every member of Congress? The voice of Americans are being drowned out in Washington. I am running for congress to fix the broken system and be a much needed voice for progressive Americans. I stand in strong opposition to the Washington status quo of rampant corruption and corporate cronyism that has weakened the public's trust in government. .... Sticking to my word, I have refused to take PAC dollars or lobbyist money and am relying on donations from supporters from around the country to fund my campaign."

31 May, an information sent by Mr.Miroslav Kolar to the WDDM discussion channel: "The CBC radio has just this week started "The Great Canadian Wish List", http://www.cbc.ca/wish/ - experiment soliciting wishes of Canadians for the future of the country. It seems to me that it could serve as some sort of citizens´ database of positions on various issues, if it will be allowed to develop unhindered. The system enables to enter your wishes (.i.e., citizens´ initiatives in our DD terminology), discuss them, join to support them, and rate them - all the right ingredients. I have not yet time to participate. It was interesting to listen the CBC journalist on two occasions musing about this experiment whether it is appropriate for a respectable broadcaster to venture into what they called "citizen's journalism", and "unmoderated discussions"!!!

Another controversy: The Wish list experiment is in co-operation with the social network Facebook, http://www.facebook.com Social Network, which is a US company, and some CBC listeners already criticized this fact. They didn't want to sign up with Facebook because the US Patriot Act could compel Facebook to pass on their personal data to US authorities."

11 August, a letter sent by Mr.Miroslav Kolar to the WDDM discussion channel (excerpt):"On July 28, 2007 I attended the Grassroots Social Awareness Festival (organized by Popular Participation Movement, http://www/ppmnanaimo.com/. Many interesting local organizations participated. Several were calling for increased participation of citizens in decision making about various local issues (airport expansion, waterfront development). There was also an anarchist (anarcho-syndicalist) stand where I picked up various literature. What caught my eye first was the text titled ´WHAT IS ANARCHISM?´ It is quoted in the quote below. You can also find it in on the Nanaimo Anarchist Network site at http://www.geocities.com/vcmtalk/nan1.html ....

There were some posts against anarchism in our mailing lists rather recently. I am posting this here because for me the points listed below do constitute exactly what I believe is the Democracy (ideal of Democracy or True Democracy or Direct Democracy). So apparently I am also an anarcho-syndicalist. Note that the Anarchists also have Direct Democracy only as one constituent point in what makes a good society, that is what we call I&R here." ......

31 May, information from Mr.M.Kolar concerning a new submission to his Democracy web-site: LINK: http://www.myverdict.net - An exercise in direct democracy. Users may ask questions, put forward arguments, vote and change their vote from international to local level. All MPs are asked for their opinions.

Roy Daine, rdaine@btinternet.com  UK, 2007/5/31

12 Juli, information sent to the WDDM discussion channel (excerpt)

"Subject: bottom-up democracy
Cash for schemes such as parks, litter and Asbos to be decided by ballot.

Patric Wintour, political editor The Guardian UKJ, Thursday July 5, 2007
"Voters will be given powers to decide how tens of millions of pounds should be spent in their neighbourhood under radical plans being unveiled today.
In a potentially dramatic extension of direct democracy, councils will have to hold ballots before deciding where money should be targeted. It would mean that, for the first time, people could direct cash to areas that concern them most, such as parks, curbing antisocial behaviour, targeting drug trouble spots or cleaning up litter.
The idea comes from Latin America where it is being rapidly adopted. It began in 1989 in the southern Brazilian city of Porto Alegre, but has swept through the region and some of the more radically led cities. Thanks in part to the success of the scheme, the UN has nominated Porto Alegre as the Brazilian city with the ´best quality of life´.
When Hazel Blears, the new communities secretary, outlines the scheme she will say that she wants every neighbourhood to have control of some of the council's cash within five years.
She told the Guardian that communities will be asked to take control of council budgets through local debates, neighbourhood votes and public town meetings. ...... "
"Ms Blears insisted: ´My overriding belief is that people are capable of making quite complex difficult decisions, setting priorities, doing trade-offs if they are given the opportunity to do it. I have never believed in a paternalistic society that tells people what is good for them. We are now at a tipping point where there is a political will right across government to devolve power.´" .............

Zeitschrift für Direkte Demokratie 3/07

SWITZERLAND

The article Raíces de la abstención electoral, published in the Sin Permiso electronic newsletter on 15 July, tries to answer the question: Why do people cease to participate in elections? To begin with, the author tries to explain why people do participate. He puts forward three hypotheses: 
1. Belief that voting is their duty as citizens; 
2.Solidarity with their class or group, especially strong among blue-collar workers; 
3.Belief that their vote makes a difference. 
Research indicates that all these motives are becoming weaker. In the UK, in parliamentary elections, abstentions increased from less than 24% in 1992 to more than 40% in 2001. In the USA, less than 50% participated in the two latest presidential elections. The same trend is observable in France, Germany and Italy. According to the author, the most important reason for abstentions is political alienation vis-a-vis the globalized world run by corporations and their vested interests rather than by citizen representatives.

8 June, a letter sent by Mr.George Kokkas ( geoko@otenet.gr ) to the WDDM discussion channel concerning a DD handbook (excerpt). For the whole text (18 pages) please contact Mr.Kokkas.

EUROPE

2 August and 3 September, information from Mr.L.Salgi:

The most recent activity of the forum at European Constituent Process has been Everyone's a Citizen, Baby
http://europeanconstituentprocess.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=60 and ditto http://europeanconstituentprocess.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?tphp?t=152

22 August, information from Mr.Vladimir Rott:
fwd:
Call for pan-European referendum on new EU Treaty http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azWoqz4jgyl
London-based group Open Europe = www.OpenEurope.org.uk  - wants a referendum for everyone in Europe on any new European Union treaty www.EUX.TV video on www.YouTube.com

5 July, a letter sent to various channels by Dr.Doug Everingham:

Doug Everingham's 2007 thoughts on DEFINING UTOPIA

The text, certainly worth reading, is too long for this newsletter. Those interested can contact the author, dnevrghm@powerup.com.au .

9 July, a letter sent by Mr.Robin Eagle to the World Citizen discussion channel (excerpt):

"The US spends as much on the military as the rest of the world combined. How many people would support this or vote for it if they were given the chance and the vote? Likewise how many people would vote for or against global warming? There are a lot of things that people would love to vote for or against.
There are also many excellent proposals for solving our global problems that most people don´t know about, including the area of global governance. The intention of the World Movement for Global Democracy is to create a listing of the best proposals and initiatives and let or encourage people to add their own to this. ..... "

Note: This is basically the same idea once put forward by Mr.Mikael Nordfors (later, he changed his name for personal reasons) in the Vivarto system. And again, in the recently launched My Verdict (see below). JP

21 July, a letter sent to the World-wide-democracy.net discussion channel:

"Please check regularly the WDDM Forum, the section (forum) entitled ´Proposals and Initiatives´ at http://www.world-wide-democracy.net/forum/list.php?23

For the time being this is the place where anybody can place a new proposal, discuss it, and turn it into a mature initiative.
The process is outlined in one of the posted proposals there, and here I mail it out to all for your convenience.
-----------------
PROCESS:
The initiative proposals are submitted per the process outlined in our WDDM charter which includes:

1.Submission of a proposal to the WDDM Proposal Forum for discussion and solicitation of seconds.
2. (optional) Amendment of the proposal based on comments received, and solicitation of seconds.
3. If three seconds are received the proposal may be submitted to the webmaster for posting as a motion for discussion and decision.
4. Webmaster posts the motion for discussion and vote.
5. Motion either passes or fails.

This process is in the WDDM Charter and it is available for any relevant issue to all members of WDDM!

Vol. 9 (No. 3) September 2007