Forum Post: Now this is what (Direct) Democracy looks like!!!!!
Posted 13 years ago on Nov. 7, 2011, 10:56 p.m. EST by Amanita76
(88)
from New Haven, CT
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Direct Democracy and the principles of consensus based decision making is an ingrained philosophy of the Occupy Movement.
I propose we take direct democracy beyond the movement, and into public life. I talk to many people about applying direct democracy and the methods of consensus based decision making, to this country. Some are intrigued by it while some immediately dismiss the notion as absurd. Then the next question is often, "name one place where the people truly govern themselves."
Ancient Athens is one example direct democracy. Hwever, the exclusion of women and slaves in the governing process at the time ignores the principles of equality that are held by this movement and the modern world. Equality should be a precursor to democracy.
Today, Switzerland has the truest form of direct democracy in the world. Frequent referendums concerning changes to the constitution as well as laws are the key element of Switzerland's unique and well established tradition of Direct Democracy. More than 100 years of experience with referendums on national, cantonal and communal level have shown that Switzerland's system of referendums guarantees not only a maximum amount of self-determination to the citizens but also a stability of the political system.
Switzerland wrote the book on Direct Democracy: http://direct-democracy.geschichte-schweiz.ch/
Swiss constitution: http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/sz00000_.html
I propose this movement consider the benefits and possible implementation of direct democracy in the U.S. This would effective give the people political power, addressing sometimes unaccountable decisions government makes through representatives who are in the hands of moneyed interests.
Plus, this could potentially lessen majority factions in government. The two party system has failed America in my opinion. Both left and right take money from the same moneyed interests (Wall St., lobbyists, etc.) with few exceptions regarding labor donating mainly to liberals. Lets face it, money follows power.
Thats the theory. It will come to fruition by serious debate and question; should such a democracy only pertain to the federal government? Should it be specific to state government? Local? What are the downturns of Direct Democracy? Can the public be trusted to make any decisions big or small outside of voting?
In any case I think if we were to have direct democracy at any level of governance the percentage to pass a proposal or resolution should be high. 75%, 80%, 90%, or 99%? (On a side not, such that the U.S. presently is democratic republic (no its not a pure democracy) there are a number of good things in a representative government or a constitutional republic).(Take a look at the California Republic , Common Law, Bill .T, Sovereignty of the People, etc. Good site to start off: http://tinyurl.com/7e6nxom and 1215.org).
I envision this movement in the future denouncing not only the corruption on wall street. but rather proposing serious solutions to our grievances, directing them at mainly Washington whether by presence or collective message. The politicians of both parties cannot be trusted to "take on the OWS cause" when both sides take wall st. money! To believe politicians can truthfully enact serious policy directed at the very people and corporate entities who fund their campaigns, and therefore make the laws, defies logic.
And in a nation of over 300,000,000 people this is supposed to work?
Direct Democracy could in theory work for this country. I know Switzerland is much much smaller of country but I see no reason why it couldn't work.
But to your point, it would be 228,000,000 people under 18 (the voting age) who are even legally able to participate, I would think.
Secondly, in Switzerland, for about the last 10 years, about only 45% of people actively participate in Direct Democracy. So if we apply that same percentage of political apathy to the U.S. we have 91,000,000 people involved. The last I checked this amount of people outnumbers the votes of the 1% who have so much political clout. And please, in this technologically advanced day and age, I think some intelligent people could come together and devise a way of electronic voting that is accessible to the public.
This video is a good piece on Swiss democracy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dx7Cxi4nt4
Let it be known that this will not necessarily stop money influencing politicians. That must be addressed on its own.
problem with your plan is when you look at the actually voting rates in the US.
But why are voting rates so low in the first place? I would say because people have no trust in their representatives to really represent their views. The way I see it as do others, you either vote for the puppet on the left or the puppet on the right.
Direct Democracy would at least give people the opportunity to hold politicians accountable and decide upon policy issues. Besides representative democracy is not a spectator sport. I dont think voting for politicians every couple years works that great. OWS has figured this out. We know what democracy looks like and it shows at GA. If we really do get direct democracy in this country, we know at least all the Occupiers will participate!
It's not all voting rates though that's the thing. If you want to know why "1%" controll politiccs, it's becuase 40% of the people do more that 50% of the voting in America.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_turnout
On the side of the page about half way down, it the voter turn out rate in the US for 1988. the sad thing is is that except for the 20088 black vote, the rates haven't changed much since then. You want a direct democracy that represents all parts of America fairly, you need to change those rates first.
More importantly, the House of representatives is the part of the legislature closest to their constituents and less that 50% vote in those elections. direct democracy might be a good Idea, but you need to do better than i would say 75% to really start changing America
This study gives me some hope: http://apr.sagepub.com/content/29/6/625.abstract