Two-Party System on the Way out?

The Slow, Inevitable, Collapse of the Two-Party System (OrientalReview)

More important - it does not really matter how many parties compete for your vote, and under what electoral system.The most important change to align politics with the wishes of the Citizens is the introduction of Direct Democracy on all levels of Government.

Just these days the Burghers of Zurich, Switzerland, will launch a referendum against the imposition of higher parking charges in their town. One may agree or not, but they do not have to helplessly accept the diktat from above.

Internet and Democracy - a new book

The Internet can certainly shake up the traditional (slow) dynamics of our democracies that are ruled by well-entrenched bureaucracies, lobbies and establishment parties. But it is no game changer as the example of Switzerland shows. There direct democracy was flourishing well before the invention of the Internet. (Financial Times)

Direct Democracy helps to keep taxation low

A new study supports the thesis that direct democracy helps to maintain a low level of government spending. Free-spending politicians in the cartel of high-tax countries dominating the EU membership would be reigned in if the citizens would have a direct say on tax and spending measures.

Initiative calls for lowering 5 per cent hurdle in Zurich town council

Many countries have a minimum hurdle that parties have to exceed before they are allocated seats in the national or local parliaments. Now there is a new initiative in the City of Zurich that calls for the lowering of the threshold to 2 per cent making it easier for smaller parties to gain a seat in the town council. Without taking a view on the merits of this initiative we are convinced that all constitutional changes should be subject to a vote in a referendum and that it should not be left to the established political parties and politicians to decide what changes are adopted.