How to get rid of useless Governments, Politicians?

That is the question asked by many unhappy citizens - not only in dictatorships but also in most democracies.
There is of course no perfect solution, as there is no perfect democracy.
But giving the electorate to initiate recall referendums would be a step in the right direction. There would have to be stringent regulations to prevent abuse, a quorum to have a referendum held, then a high hurdle rate of support, maybe two thirds of those in support.
Better still to prevent the need for a recall to arise in the first place.
Direct Democracy on all levels of government would ensure that all political decisions are debated properly and individual politicians are forced to take a measured approach to governing. 
The threat of having all decisions to be subject to the scrutiny by the electorate would prevent any extreme, hasty or one-sided decisionmaking.

Boris Johnson moves into $3.8 million mansion

 Politics can be a very profitable business

Macron demands Brexit Deal to be translated into French

Just when you thought that our lamentable political 'Leaders' could not behave in a more pathetic manner this headline hits the press today. Maybe the Mini Napoleon wants the draft to be translated into all the languages that are spoken in the rump EU, only then it would not look like a chauvinist demand. 

Macron demands Brexit trade agreement is translated into French

Who needs this Parliament?

Six weeks holidays for UK Parliament, at a moment when the Wuhan crisis does not give any indication of subsiding and many businesses are at the limit of their endurance. To make matters worse we have not heard of ONE MP or Minister who has offered to reduce his compensation as a sign of solidarity. Online meetings make an expensive building with numerous support staff an anachronism in any case.
Reckless MP's abandon the sinking ship Great Britain

How to prevent Politicians to cash in on their name recognition

Examples such as Tony Blair or Nick Clegg illustrate the problem that well-known Politicians are reaping extraordinary rewards from positions they are offered after they leave office(or pushed out by the electorate). The solution must be that all Politicians should have a career outside Politics and only serve a limited time in office. In Ancient Rome the Consuls were elected for one year only and there was no renewal. In our time the details of government should be handled by experienced Civil Service. There is no need for a constant rotation of Ministers, Education one Day, Health the next Day etc. Governments are involved in way too many details of citizen's lives, less areas of responsibility should mean that the role of elected officials can well be handled on a part-time basis.
Cash haul by former Coalition ministers

Emmanuel Macron to address parliament at the Palace of Versailles

Not even in power more than two months....just demonstrates why a proper democracy should not give too much power to individuals!
Emmanuel Macron channels Louis XIV as he plans to address parliament at the Palace of Versailles

Why are Politicians despised?

Some would even say hated. Given the endless reports of diminishing trust in policitians one might well think that there is something wrong with society. Maybe it lacks moral standards and this causes people to have less and less respect for their 'leaders'. But considering David Miliband's salary of US$ 600,000 as CEO or the International Rescue Committee (Charity!) there is no doubt where the blame lies! Given that every penny he gets too much is coming (literally) out of the pocket of the poor he is supposed to help this is a demonstration that there is an enormous swamp that waits to be drained - and only Direct Democracy has any chance to ever get on top of these abuses. Equally depressing is the part played by mainstream (corporate) Media - just now Miliband was pontificating on CNBC, and the fawning reporter there did not raise the question of his pay at all!

Macron's Mandate for Change

Another Black Eye in the face of proper Democracy. A minority supports another candidate parachuted in by the Establishment. How can Macron be seen as an 'independent' politician when he recently served in the Socialist Government?
Macron's Mandate for Change

Obama cashes in from Big Money

Politicians are the real "Deplorables" - too much focus on individuals (esp in this age of  media focus on "Celebrities") allows this sort of behaviour. Merkel, Hollande, Putin, Erdogan, Modi - short term limits and collegial government would prevent excessive power in their hands.
Obama may help Dems by hurting himself—Commentary

Gold-plated Pensions the Politicians award themselves

Egregious abuse - this example from the USA

How Contress Retirement Pay Compares to the Overall Average

Reflections on the Brexit Referendum

A narrow result in a referendum about the constitution should always require a meaningful quorum. In most countries election results are regularly decided by the thinnest of margins. But the UK referendum about Brexit leaves a somewhat sour taste as the majority of 52% has defeated a minority of 48%. So there is quite a split among the citizens, and a different result would just have meant that the roles are reversed.

There are several lesson from the whole exercise:

The development of the EU and its institutions proceeded with little regard to the wishes of the electorate. Regular consultations on major steps forward should have been submitted to a referendum in all the member states, with a significant quorum (2/3?) as safety valve.

It should not be at the pleasure of a Politician whether or not a referendum takes place. If we want to live in a proper democracy the consultation of the citizens should be governed by mandatory and predictable rules. Otherwise the often mentioned objection to Direct Democracy - that it can be abused by Governments and referenda become plebiscites - will always have to be taken seriously.

Reflections on the Brexit Referendum

A narrow result in a referendum about the constitution should always require a meaningful quorum. In most countries election results are regularly decided by the thinnest of margins. But the UK referendum about Brexit leaves a somewhat sour taste as the majority of 52% has defeated a minority of 48%. So there is quite a split among the citizens, and a different result would just have meant that the roles are reversed.

There are several lesson from the whole exercise:

The development of the EU and its institutions proceeded with little regard to the wishes of the electorate. Regular consultations on major steps forward should have been submitted to a referendum in all the member states, with a significant quorum (2/3?) as safety valve.

It should not be at the pleasure of a Politician whether or not a referendum takes place. If we want to live in a proper democracy the consultation of the citizens should be governed by mandatory and predictable rules. Otherwise the often mentioned objection to Direct Democracy - that it can be abused by Governments and referenda become plebiscites - will always have to be taken seriously.

Celebrity Politics due to lack of proper Democracy

When the likes of Angelina Jolie, George Clooney, Bono and Bob Geldof can get prominent media exposure and access to political shakers and movers it is only due to the fact that democratic practice is dysfunctional. Neither they nor our politicians really do have a democratic mandate for the policies they support. Being detached from the electorate they form a closed society of cronies that mutually support each other. Politicians gain from being associated with supposedly glamorous 'artists' that the media fawn over while the 'celebrities' can boost their brand value. Has-beens such as Bill Clinton or Tony Blair later on effortlessly move from one side to the other and cash in on their prominence.

Merkel says Brexit Referendum 'Unnessary Risk'

From the Viewpoint of a traditional Top-Down political Operator she may well have a point. Anytime the citizens have a direct say in political decisions there is a 'risk' that the manipulations of party machines will be stopped dead in their tracks.

Party Cronies rule our Lives

In Austria the Chancellor is replaced at the drop of a hat. Party hacks decide he is no longer useful to keep them in power and he must go. In comes a political novice, never stood in an election, has zero mandate to rule as helpless citizens watch in disbelief.
In Italy a young politician close to the Prime Minister is allowed to manipulate the decades-old constitution. Main purpose to provide a safe and comfortable life for the ruling parties. At least there will have to be a referendum on the changes - but is it not all-too-easy to get the desired result? Is the required Quorum demanding enough (two thirds in favour, with at least 50 percent of those eligible to vote turning up? regional preferences catered for?)

I would have been a better President

Says the defeated 2012 Republican Candidate Mitt Romney. That may or may not have been the case. But this statement demonstrates that to give individuals - may they be called President, Prime Minister of Chancellor - too much discretionary power and for too long a period is contrary to the principle of democracy. Democracy after all means 'Rule of the People' [The term originates from the Greek δημοκρατία (dēmokratía) "rule of the people"]

Trust is good, Control is better

May a commentator bemoans the fact that now it is more and more difficult for the citizens to trust politicians. I would say that this is a good thing. Politics should not be based on what 'trusted' politicians decide on the citizen's behalf. Politics should just implement the will of the majority - subject to the constraints inscribed in a constitution.

Politicians care little about voter's real concerns

When a US Senator gets involved in the current dispute between Russia and the Ukraine it just delivers another example about the disconnect between the political class and the ordinary citizens. The majority of Americans seem to have little idea where Ukraine is located on a map, and in all likelihood they could not care less what happens in this country. They will have little or no understanding of the intricate history of this region of the world - nor should they. So one has to wonder why a Senator with hardly any real life experience - most of his time so far was spent on the public payroll - who is supposed to represent the citizens of Connecticut - is warmongering in Kiev. Putting US troops right in front of the nose of Russia is akin to Russia trying to install missiles in Cuba in 1962. We all know what that led too. But I am sure the good Senator will get some cheap headlines from the fawning and compliant media back home.

Politicians suffer sharp fall in trust

A new report claims that people trust local politicians more than those in central government but the majority still thinks that politicians at all levels are liars (IPPR North). The introduction of Direct Democracy would go a long way towards bridging the credibility gap.

Erdogan may ban Facebook and YouTube

Nothing demonstrates better the need for Direct Democracy in the fight against overbearing politicians than this headline. In a properly functioning Democracy statements like this would not pose a real threat as the ban could only be implemented after a lengthy legislative process. Ultimately there might have to be a referendum where a qualified majority of citizens would have to agree to the proposed legislation. So wannabe dictators of all persuasions or just politicians with an exaggerated sense of self-importance would quickly put in their place - or removed from the political scene.