25 January 2013

Dirdem reduces inter-societal conflicts

Democracy as practised at the moment in most countries can easily lead to the dictatorship of a (often) tiny majority. In many cases it is actually a minority as the perverse effect of poorly-designed election systems can put governments in place that have only a small fraction of the electorate behind them.Lobbies can also have a disproportionate influence as parties fight for every last voting bloc - however small - just to make it over the 50pct finishing lines. So our proposal to introduce Direct Democracy will include measures to protect the majority as well as the minorities. By requiring that major policy decisions have the backing of at least two thirds of the electorate and are also backed by the majority of regions/provinces the voting process will result in an outcome that avoids benefiting small groups at the expense of the whole of society. For example, politicians will be less able to pander to the interests of the old/young or favour certain regions at the expense of other areas.

23 January 2013

David Cameron promises referendum on Europe

This headline encapsulates all that is wrong with the way referendums are conducted in most 'democratic' countries in Europe. The fact that a politician promises something - anything - should already put the reader on his guard. But that the holding of any referendum is decided by exactly the people they are supposed to reign in is a fatal flaw in their organisation. As long as the referendum is dependent on the willingness of governments to hold them they are likely to be abused for ulterior political motives and result in a distorted picture of the will of the electorate.

22 January 2013

What makes Angela Merkel tick

Or Obama, or Putin, or Cameron....should not be of any major concern to the citizens of the respective countries. They are just the top officials in charge of executing the will of the people. The best way to make sure that the wishes of the electorate are followed is to subject all legislation to an effective form of Direct Democracy. This would mean that dominant personalities - for good but all-too-often for worse - have their roles severely restricted.

11 January 2013

US Congress - full of Babies

Says Bloomberg/BusinessWeek. 435 representatives and 100 senators are 'acting like immature children'. Dirdem says let them rattle their cage but give ultimate power to the citizens.

Politicians cater to a parasitic clique of lobbyists?

This judgment may be a bit harsh (in some cases) but Direct Democracy would severely restrict the ability of politicians to cause harm.