Peter and Lesley Brenner
There is good news: We can have “more democracy” – “Binding Direct Democracy” in fact. And there is nothing to stop us introducing it in Tasmania. No need to change the Hare Clarke or any other existing premises. “Binding Direct Democracy” is well researched, it’s proven to work, the instruments are known, analysed and can be replicated or further adapted to suit the given circumstances.
“WE WANT MORE democracy”, a call currently high on the agenda of many Tasmanians, apparently including our new Premier.
There is good news: We can have “more democracy” – “Binding Direct Democracy” in fact. And there is nothing to stop us introducing it in Tasmania. No need to change the Hare Clarke or any other existing premises. “Binding Direct Democracy” is well researched, it’s proven to work, the instruments are known, analysed and can be replicated or further adapted to suit the given circumstances.
BUT, there is one condition: Before we start tinkering we need to clear out the mental cobwebs and misinformation and look with fresh eyes at what’s on offer.
We need to know our subject we before we make proposals or even discuss options in public. We also need to know why, who and what interests are against the addition to our existing system of a binding, empowering direct democracy.
We need to inform ourselves about the actual workings of binding direct democracy. We need to understand questions of mandatory or voluntary voting, why we, for instance, need not be afraid of voluntary voting, but need to be deeply suspicious of built in quota hurdles. We need to look at questions of costing, range of scope, how to avoid manipulation, how to identify the excruciatingly arrogant argument that “the people” are not intelligent, educated or sophisticated enough to participate, look at how direct democracy is a true form of public education and informed participation, look at its economic success rates, etc, etc.
Tasmania (and the whole of Australia for that matter) clearly needs an addition to the existing representative systems that is more effective for the democratic rights of the citizen. The existing crude dependence and demanded “trust” in any government playing the “listening to and consultation” game all too often results in scientific research and the people’s will being ignored or tampered with. We need a democratic addition that reinforces the people’s right to decide on issues in between elections and with binding results. Binding being the crucial word here.
In other words, we need to become seriously informed in the current, serious and pertinent public educational debate taking place around the world right now on how countries, States and local governments can add the “Binding Initiative and Referendum” (also known as BIR) of direct democracy to their existing forms of representation.
Survey after survey shows that citizens across the globe want more democracy through binding initiatives and votes; democracy that educates and empowers them in policymaking, and controls the politicians in between elections. All the more so as the world faces the great challenge of climate change and the propensity for governments, political parties and corporations to continue with business as usual, emasculating the voice of the people and their wellbeing and survival.
An excellent introduction to the discussion on “more democracy”, covering all the aspects, questions, reserves, pitfalls and statistics dealing with the topic come in a compact, downloadable pdf volume (96 pages) which we attach for easy access:
Direct Democracy
Facts and Arguments about the Introduction of Initiative and Referendum
By Jos Verhulst & Arjen Nijeboer
Chapters knowledgeably deal with some of the oft quoted objections to direct democracy, but also with lessons from direct democracy in practice, The democratic person, Federalism, subsidiarity and social capital, What is democracy? The hidden power of democracy. The book is well and tightly written and takes the reader through the complex matter at a pace and concludes with a vast bibliography.
Other interesting web-addresses and pdf papers (also attached)
• International IDEA (http://www.idea.int/)
Institute for Democratic and Electoral Assistance
Supporting Democracy worldwide
• Direct Democracy in Practice: A Global Overview
Lawrence LeDuc Department of Political Science, University of Toronto (CANADA ) and International IDEA. Email: [email protected]
Prepared for the International Conference on Direct Democracy in Latin America, Buenos Aires, 14-15 March 2007
• The Initiative and Referendum in American Cities: Basic Patterns
John G. Matsusaka*
University of Southern California and I & R Institute
• Direct Democracy in Europe
Comprehensive Reference Guide to the Initiative and Referendum Process in Europe
Part of the Citizen Lawmaker Series of Educational Tools
Sponsored by
—————————IRI Europe—————————
Initiative & Referendum Institute Europe
and
—————————IRI —————————
Initiative & Referendum Institute
Edited by Bruno Kaufmann and M.Dane Waters
Carolina Academic Press, Durham, North Carolina
