Quote:I agree with all that you say but go one step further and say, its time we demand a real democracy, a direct democracy. What's your reply?
Put ATM type machines all over the place
Allocate a PIN type number for everyone of voting age
All government proposals would be visible by scolling on the ATM type machines and online, etc.
The date proposed, by whom and the date when votes will conclude would be included within the information provided
Voters would be able to access the proposals 24/7
All proposals would be subject to majority Yay or Nay
Government would be merely the administrative arm of the People -- in other words, would be bean-counters, vote-tallyers
e.g. ' So and so has proposed purchase of twenty xyz fighter jets from Russia at a cost of $..... to be delivered in 12 months'. Some might vote Yes. Others, No. Purchase would be dependent upon majority approval
e.g. ' So and so has proposed increasing politicians salaries by 26%, commencing July. If approved, politicians would receive $X per year plus perks'. Subject to majority approval
and so on
Under the current system, we are not asked, we are told. Politicians are allocated portfolios in which they have no expertise. Our lives are subject to influences whose identities are largely withheld from the paying public
I'm a great believer in Of the People, By the People, For the People. Sure, it's hackneyed now, has been ground down to meaninglessness. I also believe in majority rule - it works for the animal kingdom and we are, after all, a lower form of animal. And all empires which have catered to minorities have folded
There is no official name for my utopian scheme
At the moment the public service advises the govt but since Howard the public service has only provided advice that the government of the day wants to hear. In a direct democracy the public service would advise the people with honest advice rather then ideologically loaded BS advice. In a direct democracy there are no politicians to corrupt and any lobbying you do you had better do in the open to everyone because convincing a handful of people with a few "gifts" behind closed doors wont get you your way. You call this utopian but that's not correct. The Athenian democracy was a direct democracy. They would have laughed at what we call democracy today. And it was an extremely sophisticated democracy with lots of checks and balances and it was so successful that it built an empire and became the richest and most powerful country for over 200 years.
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