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WORLDWIDE
DIRECT DEMOCRACY
(WDD)
The Individual against the Collective
(by Jiri Polak)
Behind the conflict between the DD Movement and the advocates
of organisation-based representative systems, there is a conflict between the
ideology of individualism and that of collectivism. Some people like to picture
individualism as an egoistic attitude, caring about nobody but one self. Surely,
some people are such, but the attitude of most people is a mixture (different in
each individual) of both egoism and altruism - respect and sympathy for others.
The problem is, what role, if any, do these attitudes play in politics?
Collectivism, especially in less developed countries, is
often presented, explicitly or implicitly, as a sort of civic virtue. The
isolated individual is nothing, it is his/her duty to subordinate him/herself
to, or even become dissolved in, a greater entity - the nation, the country, the
class, the party, the union, the Church... This is an imposture, conscious or
not.
Take the often remembered words of President Kennedy: "Don't
ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your
country!" Translated into plain language, the wording would be something
like, "Keep your mouth shut and obey blindly the orders benefiting the
oligarchy and various vested interests of your country!"
No collective can act as a collective. Each collective
consists of individuals, each of them unique. Individuals not only differ from
one another; their differences are growing. This trend is due to the fact that,
owing to the growth of information and ontogenetic factors, the individuals´
perception of reality is becoming increasingly complex. In my previous articles,
I called this phenomenon "the disintegration of the illusion of objective
reality". In politics, this means that those who act are always
individuals. The notion of collective has always been misused by
oligarchic rulers in order to manipulate and exploit large masses by pretending
that the rulers do what the masses want, or what they would want if only they
understood their own good. The most obvious example of this fallacy is the
failure of the socialist and communist ideology. Marx's fundamental mistake was
his utopian belief that the working class could liberate itself by class
struggle. Instead, the world got the horrors of Stalinism, Maoism and other monstrous
regimes. The neo-conservative ideology, proclaiming that "democracy"
and "freedom" can be achieved by killing millions of people in wars,
is not much better.
This is what makes the principle of direct democracy so
different from all ideologies of purely representative government: In the DD
movement, it is the individual, not any collective, which is taken as the
point of departure. Since, as shown, each individual is different from each
other individual, while reality consists of an infinity of subjective realities,
there is no objective criterion permitting to decide whether any individual is
more important, more valuable or more insightful than any other individual.
Consequently, all individuals have to be treated as equals. This is the raison
d'être of democracy. Theoretically, democracy, as an idea and desirable
system, cannot be disproved. It can only be suppressed, distorted, and silenced.
But democracy, involving all citizens, not only by giving them human and
political rights, but also by making them responsible as individuals for
the fate of future generations, is the only hope of saving our civilization,
heading for disaster. If any vision is worth fighting for, this one surely is.
Quote:
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INTERNATIONAL
USA
Recently published!
Citizen Power
www.citizen-power.us
Contents
Chapter 1 - Now It's the Citizen's Turn
Chapter 2 - The National Initiative
Chapter 3 - America's Failure in Education
Chapter 4 - Tax Reform - The Fair Tax
Chapter 5 - The Health Security System
Chapter 6 - National Environmental & Energy Policy
Chapter 7 - The War on Drugs
Chapter 8 - Crime & Punishment
Chapter 9 - The Shroud of Secrecy
Chapter 10 - American Imperialism
Chapter 11 - Global Governance
Chapter 12 - Who Stole the American Dream ?
Appendix A - The Democracy Amendment
Appendix B - The Democracy Act
Appendix C - The Declaration of Independence
Appendix D - The United states Constitution
Appendix E - The United Nations Charter
Appendix F - Notable Quotations
Senator Mike Gravel´s political credo - some
quotations:
"More than half of American citizens have been making laws by initiative at
the state and local levels of government for the last hundred years. A close
examination of the people's legislative record in the 24 states and numerous
local communities shows they have legislated responsibly and many times more so
than their elected legislators, particularly on fiscal matters; and this was
done without the deliberative legislative procedures that exist in all
legislative bodies. " ........ (p.9)
"The representative system of government structurally maintains citizens in
civic adolescence. Proof of this exists in the passive acceptance by the people
of the ridiculous actions of their elected legislators and their administrative
officials. These government leaders decide to go to war and then refuse to raise
taxes to pay for the war. Worse still, they cut taxes, passing the financial
burden on to our grandchildren." .......
"WHEN PEOPLE GIVE their political power away on Election Day, they then
hold their representatives responsible for public policy decisions even though
they, the voters, are responsible for electing those representatives. Ultimately
responsibility always rests with the people. The present structure of
representative government denies the people the opportunity to take
responsibility for public policy decisions and their consequences, thereby
limiting their ability to mature civically." .............
"The structural flaws of representative government are not
self-correcting." ............ (p. 10)
"Human nature and the natural corrupting influence of power are hardly
correctable by those who profit from it. The people, empowered as lawmakers, are
the only possible corrective force. For democracy to work, the people not only
must be informed, but must also be empowered to act upon that information."
...............
"Pundits and students of government generally agree that our federal
government is dysfunctional - with the Congress in gridlock, an imperial
presidency steeped in its own hubris, and a judiciary anointed with papal powers
for life. Conventional wisdom informs us that our government under the Bush
Administration is the worst we have ever seen. Not so. We are captivated by the
myth of "the good old days". The good old days never existed. We have
selective memory about our triumphal past and amnesia about the wrongs
perpetrated in each decade since our nation´s founding." (p. 11)
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is not, in fact, a democracy, nor are the other
"democracies" of the world. They are all representative governments.
In a democracy, the people are the government. In our "democracies" we
elect representatives to run the government for us. Those we elect do not, for
the most part, run the country first and foremost in the interest of the people;
as human nature dictates, they run it for their own interest first. We are led
to believe by those who control the polity that we have no choice but to give
our sovereign power to politicians on Election Day.
That need not be the case!" (p. 12)
"This generation of Americans must complete the work of the founders by
bringing American citizens into the operations of government as lawmakers in a
governing partnership with our elected officials."..........
"In fact, it's easier for citizens to decide on policy issues themselves
rather than try to guess what representatives will do after they get in
office." ......
"HOW CAN AMERICANS become lawmakers? The congress is not likely to dilute
its powers by empowering the people. Therefore, the people themselves must enact
a federal ballot initiative called the National Initiative for Democracy, a
proposed law that my colleagues and I have developed and refined over the past
decade to empower citizens as lawmakers in every government jurisdiction of the
United States - in a partnership with their elected officials. The enacting
process goes entirely around the U.S. government and is legal under our
Constitution." .............. (p. 13)
"Many stakeholders in the status quo perpetuate the myth that the people
are not wise enough to enact laws on policies that affect their lives.
Nevertheless, the people are expected to select the individuals who then make
those decisions. The selection of representatives to make those decisions is
considerably more difficult than the people making those policy decisions
directly. This myth that the people are not up to the legislative task of their
own self-governance is totally discredited by the 100-year history of the people
competently legislating by iniciative at the state and local levels of
government, and by the Swiss national experience" ............ (p. 16)
"The National Initiative's electoral process began on September 17, 2002,
allowing people to use the Internet to vote." ..................... (p. 17)
Comment: Owing to its grandeur of vision, the depth of insight, the encyclopedic
knowledge of the American political system and history, and the mastery of
style, in future, CITIZEN POWER might come to be considered as one of the most
important books published in the 21st century. I consider it epoch-making. It
may serve as an inspiration not only for the Americans, but for all people
living in mock-democratic representative systems.
At the same time, Sen. Gravel's project might be the last chance for the
Americans to stop the rot. In the absence of sufficient support, we might only
witness a continuing decay to which all undemocratic systems are implacably
exposed, owing to the corruption caused by pathological concentration of power.
(JP)
17 February, Mr. Bruce Eggum
sent a letter to the WDDM discussion channel drawing our attention to the
program of Sen. Barack Obama: Plan to Change Washington
"I am in this race to tell the corporate lobbyists that their days of
setting the agenda in Washington are over. I have done more than any other
candidate in this race to take on lobbyists - and won. They have not funded my
campaign, they will not get a job in my White House, and they will not drown out
the voices of the American people when I am president."
- Barack Obama, Speech in Des Moines, IA, November 10, 2007
See http://www.barackobama.com/issues/ethics/
Commenting on his program, the site "Democracy by The People"
wrote, "... do read Obama's policy statements off his web page. It is definitely
worth the time as it represents a drastic change in governance in the direction
of PD/DD if implemented."
18 February, a letter sent round by Mr. Evan
Ravitz:
"Folks, You may remember that last month Sen. Gavel's National Initiative
was voted the #1 idea in democracy for the next President's agenda at the Better
World Fund's new website On Day One - in just a day.
By now we've gotten 104 votes, making us the 8th most popular idea on the site
in all categories. We're the most recently submitted idea of the top 10, and the
2nd most discussed overall. Please give us a vote here. Just click the
(rightmost!) star where it says "rate this idea" under my description.
You can also comment, "Digg" us, email the Presidential candidates, or
add your own ideas to improve the world in 9 categories. Thanks for helping take
the "mock" out of democracy!
www.Vote.org : voted #1 for the next President's
agenda:
www.OnDayOne.org/ideas/democrac
y
2 April, a letter sent by Mr. David Parker
to various channels (excerpt): "Not sure how closely any of you are
following events in the USA but Mike Gravel is trying to wake America and the
World. Is it all falling on deaf ears? His book "Citizen Power" is
right along the lines of what we talk about and what our goals are. It has to
start somewhere, is this as good a place as any? Can Mike get a little help?
CNN Mike Gravel Abandons Treasonous Traitorous Democrats
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=3U9wytB8zzc
CNN Lou Dobbs & Ralph Nader on Treasonous Traitors
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=dcgDd_ICOvU
Mike Gravel - Helter Skelter - Revolution #2
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=aPZt4MwCJk
GERMANY
Zeitschrift für Direkte Demokratie 1/08 From the Contents:
Aktuelles
Notizen aus den Bundesländern
Aktionen rund um die Demokratie
Bundesländer
Berlin: Wie soll das Wahlrecht reformiert werden?
Saarland: Demokratiereform vorerst gescheitert
KOMMENTAR Es bleibt bei der Roten Laterne...
Hamburg: Nochmal neu aufgelegt ...
BaWü: Zahl de Bürgerbegehren verdreifacht
NRW: Spitze in wirkungslosen Bürgerbegehren
NRW: Sammeln für die Wahlrechtsreform
Blickpunkt
Mehr Demokratie legt ersten bundesweiten Bürgerbegehrensbericht vor !
Mehr Demokratie-Strategie bis zur Bundestagswahl 2009. Roman Huber
Einladung: Treffen für einen AK Bürgerbeteiligung
Vorschlag zur Publikationsstrategie von Mehr Demokratie. Erhard O.Müller
Foren für die Mitglieder. Hans Gilles
UK
25 March, a letter sent round by Mr.Bernard Clayson
(abbreviated):
"I have attended two planning related meetings recently. One an update for
parish councillors and clerks, the other was the public participation part of
the district Local Development Framework. The first emphasised my ´belief´
that ´everything is someone's opinion´. A common complaint is that parish
council comments on planning applications are ignored, not unreasonable as they
specify that comments have to relate to the Local Plan, Planning Guidance etc,
in other words no opinions. Yet they use their opinion when deciding when one
rule over-rides another rule, if it goes to appeal the inspector decides .......
in his/her opinion. In other words, everyone's opinion counts .... except the one's
who have to live with it.
Life's a bitch, so get used to it.
The second one was interesting from a modus-operandi perspective. The
participants were assigned to tables with a facilitator, note taker, district
councillor .... and a ´driver of the local economy´ (vested interest). My
table had the owner of a construction company, another had the airport MD, etc.
The pattern appeared to be on all tables where I recognised the individuals. My
comments on the looming credit and energy supply situation were not appreciated,
whether they were recorded is something else. Chatting with other people at
lunch indicated I was not alone, ´Alice in Wonderland territory´, ´Off the
planet´, ´It's a wish-list´, ´Is what they are on legal?´ etc.
I had an amusing experience at the county transport conference which followed
the same format. The corporate director of the previous owner of the airport
also attended, he introduced me to some other people as his ´alter-ego´ (that's
another story<grin>). We met at another meeting after we had received the
conference report, and we both laughing came to the conclusion we had been sent
the report of another meeting. We also agreed on the fact that a spin-doctor and
I agreeing on anything, is one for the Guinness Book of Records, two in one day
is incomprehensible. Planner's plan, it's in their training, manipulating the
public opinion to produce the desired result is far from original.
So what is new, nothing, contradictions galore, but that's not new. Correction,
one thing is new, and it comes under the category of ´over-looking the bleeding
obvious´. .............
I am sure all readers appreciate Bernard's humorous, yet revealing style! JP
SWEDEN
31 March, a letter sent to various channels by Mr.Fred Blomson:
" A constitution to be valid, has to be legislated by all the group members
by e-referendum. One day, e-referendums with possibility of participation by all
the world citizens will be feasible. In this case, the group members should
participate in legislation. To make it possible for new members to participate,
we could repeat the e-referendum. Without this participation, for me, the
constitution is not valid!" .........
FRANCE
11 March, information sent round by Mr.Miroslav
Kolar:
New submission to http://democracy.mkolar.org/newURL.html
LINK: http://joanoji.googlepages.com/
- An Alternative Constitution for Direct Democracy.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Prof.Dienel's book Die Planungszelle is being
translated into Czech. The Czech translation is scheduled for publication this
Autumn. There is a remarkable similarity between Prof.Dienel's PC model and the
principles of the Czech Citizens´ Constitution, which had been conceived
mostly before we read Dienel's book.
The main coinciding principles are the following:
1. The requirement that, in some cases, a series of planning
cells should be organized concerning the issue to be subsequently treated by
referendum. Prof. Dienel uses the term informed plebiscite. This is
something which is not done on a regular basis in Switzerland. Owing to the high
level of the Swiss civic culture, including a long tradition, previous
assessment by PCs is probably not felt there as it should be in other
parliamentary and presidential systems. We believe that the introduction of the
right to occasional I&R is not sufficient to transform the respective
systems into real democracies. More fundamental changes, including structured citizen
deliberation, are necessary.
2. Prof Dienel envisages the establishment of an independent Participation
Authority to organize planning cells. The same principle is one of the
corner-stones of the Czech Citizens´ Constitution, labelled there the Office
for Referenda and Planning Commissions (i.e. planning cells). The work of
this Office is meant to be totally independent of the Government and
Parliament.
3. Although in one or two suggestions only, Prof. Dienel
clearly has in mind the use of the planning cells on all systemic levels,
including foreign, defence and environmental policy. This is something most
people do not clearly understand, believing the PCs are only suitable for some
local problems. It is true that, so far, the PC model has only been used in this
way. To enforce its use on all political levels would take a (non-violent)
revolution. This is something at least some of us, in Czech Republic, do not
shun, if a realistic chance would present itself.
In some cases, the extension of citizen deliberation to
higher levels might save millions of lives. Imagine any American President
having to submit the project of starting any war to the assessment by
PCs/Citizen Juries! Most probably, the tragedy of Iraq and Afghanistan would
never have taken place!
ISRAEL
24 March: New submission to http://democracy.mkolar.org/newURL.html
LINK: http://http://www.akiorrbooks.org/
- Books by Aki Orr
"This site contains books and pamphlets on Direct Democracy, and also the
books on the Israeli-Arab conflict. Both in English and Hebrew. In various
formats. All books can be copied, quoted, and distributed, without asking for
any copyright. All copyrights are waived.
THE WORLD
11 March, a letter sent round by Mr.Miroslav Kolar,
"Peace is most probably a prerequisite for DD on a larger (global) scale.
As long as people of a country are apprehensive/afraid of people from another
country and are convinced that they have to maintain armies, non-DD governments
will thrive, and maintain more power for themselves than it is necessary for a
good functioning of society because they can claim this power is necessary in
view of (imaginary or real) external threats .... "
Right on target! JP
11 March, a letter sent by Mr.B.Thomas
Marking to the WDDM discussion channel:
"The Direct Democracy Movement needs to be about developing the capacity
for citizens to choose the issues they wish to vote on - whether that is world
peace or banning crunchy peanot butter - and then making sure that those
decisions are binding on their legislators. The movement must never advocate a
specific policy, or it will lose all credibility. DDM must focus only on the
mechanism."
Exactly! JP
18 March, a letter sent by Mr.Miroslav Kolar to
the WDDM discussion channel (excerpt): "Frank, what you suggest is OK. It
is a variation of other similar proposals how to involve media in democratic
decision making. Compare e.g. my proposal to the Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation of last summer attached below. (My proposal is essentially based on
the idea of the "proposal queue", http://democracy.mkolar.org/toDonald.html
in which all participants can rate the merit of all submitted proposals to
select those that will be discussed further. You have instead the randomly
selected groups of 10 participants that decide on the merit of individual
proposals. The rest is very similar. (By the way, your random groups of 10 and
their role resemble the Wisdom Councils, e.g., http://wisedemocracyvictoria.com
)" .......
21 March, Mr. Vijayaraghavan Padmanabhan
sent a letter to the WDDM discussion channel in which he tried to sum up the
basic features of Direct Democracy:
"DD is initiative and Binding Referendum and Recalls
"DD is a sociopolitical structure concentrating the Legislation directly
and exclusively in the hands of people
" DD is the system currently used in Switzerland
" DD recognises that the Voters are the employers and Politicians are the
employees
" Direct Democracy - Wherein sovereignty is vested directly in the people,
who, in exercise of their inalienable right to self-determination and under
universal suffrage, determine the structure and functioning of their own
governance
" Direct Democracy is where the people have a say in governance directly
without the inter-mediary domination by one or more political parties."
29 March, a letter sent by Mr. Miroslav
Kolar to the WDDM discussion channel,
"Dear all,
1. About five days I created the WDDM Social Network at http://wddmsn.ning.com/
As the link to it displayed on the WDDM main page may not be noticeable
enough, I am sending this explicit invitation to explore and join it (it is set
up for anybody from the general public to join; anybody can be invited to join).
It was easy to create, and who knows, it may prove to be more conducive for
certain types of cooperation/discussion than our main site.
It has the capability to set up groups. So you are able to create any
single-issue working groups you wish there, and work on a particular issue, such
as Roy´s DD constitution.
2. Have you noticed that our home page has been also
available in Spanish for over a month? It's the result of my cooperation with a
very productive Spanish translator from my work on Translation for Progress.
Should go on with translating at least the home page into other languages? There
were some objections some time ago to the wording of the text on our home page,
so I have not been particularly in a hurry to initiate the translations. Should
I wait some more before our Mission, home page, definition of DD to be displayed
there, etc, are finalized? Or as there has not been much progress in this area,
go ahead with translating what we have there now? Mirek"
Vol. 10 (No. 2) June 2008
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