Direct Democracy

[eco warrior]

Direct democraacy,
I used to think such a system could be possible with new technology, but one day, a few years ago, quite by accident, I stumbled opon such a thing on the NET.
For those who don't know much about this, Switzerland has had such a system for 140 years. The people effectivly share power or have a veto over the government through a system called Citizens Initiative Referendum (CIR). The Swiss have not ben involved in a conflect since.
My point, is not so much about pros or cons of CIR, but without the internet, I'd never have known it existed and the only people I come accross who know anything about it are either in politics or the media.
So why the big secret?

[ivnryn]

I doubt it was a secret . Some US States also have citizen initiatives.

Normally, it involves collecting enough signatures to trigger a vote.

It has its pluses and minuses. In theory, TDs are better informed than the average votes, but there can be a conflict of interests between the TDs and the general public on alot of issues. The general public doesn't have the time to research every bill going through the Dail personally.

[blucey]

ITIR that there was something like this in the Free State Constitution?

[seabhcan]

The EU constitution had an article stating that any petition getting 1m signitures had to be voted on in the parliament.

Don't know if it made it to the Lisbon Treaty.

[ivnryn]

The EU constitution had an article stating that any petition getting 1m signitures had to be voted on in the parliament.

Don't know if it made it to the Lisbon Treaty.

In fairness, can you imagine the effort required to get 1 million signatures and then ... all you do is force them to vote on it, the least it should do is trigger a referendum (perhaps only if they vote it down).

[eco warrior]

I doubt it was a secret . Some US States also have citizen initiatives.

Normally, it involves collecting enough signatures to trigger a vote.

It has its pluses and minuses. In theory, TDs are better informed than the average votes, but there can be a conflict of interests between the TDs and the general public on alot of issues. The general public doesn't have the time to research every bill going through the Dail personally.

The swiss seem to do it very well, they're quite advanced politically, economically, socially etc... and it's true, some countries have a limited form of CIR, but that's not my point. Why, through all forms of the media, from political debate to documentries both print and TV have egnored this.
I recieved some info, from the NET, recently, that some MEP's attempted to introduce the idea after the EU constitution fell. nothing about it in the media and now rather then more democracy it seems we're getting less.

[the saint]

it was abolished in Ireland when some tried to bring a petition to get rid of the oath of alligence

[seabhcan]

I doubt it was a secret . Some US States also have citizen initiatives.

Normally, it involves collecting enough signatures to trigger a vote.

It has its pluses and minuses. In theory, TDs are better informed than the average votes, but there can be a conflict of interests between the TDs and the general public on alot of issues. The general public doesn't have the time to research every bill going through the Dail personally.

The swiss seem to do it very well, they're quite advanced politically, economically, socially etc... and it's true, some countries have a limited form of CIR, but that's not my point. Why, through all forms of the media, from political debate to documentries both print and TV have egnored this.
I recieved some info, from the NET, recently, that some MEP's attempted to introduce the idea after the EU constitution fell. nothing about it in the media and now rather then more democracy it seems we're getting less.

The medja never report on democracy except when it arrives in the form or smart bombs and high explosives.

[seabhcan]

The EU constitution had an article stating that any petition getting 1m signitures had to be voted on in the parliament.

Don't know if it made it to the Lisbon Treaty.

In fairness, can you imagine the effort required to get 1 million signatures and then ... all you do is force them to vote on it, the least it should do is trigger a referendum (perhaps only if they vote it down).

Its not that hard to get 1m signatures with a population of 500m. The pressure group "One Seat" gathered about 1.5m in 2004 to call for the EU parliament to quit its crazy monthly migration to Strasburg.

But granted, the petition measure was a weak but welcome move in a democratic direction.

[The Collective.]

I could see it been done for consitutional things. Like removing God from the consitution. But what about laws? The gov could then just over turn the referendum. So there has to be some knid of special protection for a year or something.