Gold-plated Pensions the Politicians award themselves

Egregious abuse - this example from the USA

How Contress Retirement Pay Compares to the Overall Average

Brexit Fallout: Socialist but not so democratic in Germany

In an outburst that borders on what you would normally only expect from an imbecile - and not the leader of a major political party - Sigmar Gabriel 'demanded'  that young Brits should be offered German citizenship. No clearer statement could be made to demonstrate that the pampered party hacks in many western (pseudo) democracies have very little time for democratic conventions. Apart from the absurdity of this 'demand' one has to wonder if young Swiss are also offered this (dubious) 'opportunity'.

The collapse of Western Democracy

Democracy no longer exists in the West says Paul Craig Roberts. Maybe an extreme view - esp compared to those states that can really be said to be run in an autocratic fashion. But how much say do the citizens of States in the West really have?

Globalism means Rule by unelected Elites

Brexit: Individualism > Nationalism > Globalism

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.

Zombie Governments - how to end the agony

Time and again a government has either lost its way or lost the confidence of the electorate. While sometimes a no-confidence vote in parliament can end the agony and prevent a zombie government from sitting out its term in office a more decisive way to take it out of its misery is called for. The citizens should be able to start a recall procedure if a qualified number of citizens support such a move. In a Direct Democracy such a crisis would be much less likely as citizens would have the ultimate say on all legislation. This would prevent that any government could deviate too far from the wishes of the majority.

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?)