DIRDEM     March 2010

 

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Petitions




A politician once argued against the introduction of direct democracy by quoting an adviser to Charlemagne who supposedly told his King 1200 years ago that 'the clamour of the mob is often close to insanity'. That may well be so but we could also point out any number of politicians whose actions, and even more so whose opinions, would be called insane by a wide majority of the electorate.  We also have serious doubts as to whether Charlemagne would make a suitable leader in today's political landscape. Maybe some politicians would love to decide policies in the same way that Charlemagne could do - without having to consider the wishes of his people (who were still subjects in the true sense of the word).

In a similar vein the argument that supporters of a petition against rearmament in the 1930s were misguided cannot be used against the use of direct forms of government either as it does not prove that policies - or the outcome of policies - would necessarily have been different in the absence of the petition.

Calls for the reintroduction of the death penalty also do not stand as arguments against direct democracy are also often quoted as indications of the danger of direct democracy. But who is to decide that the majority is wrong if a call for the death penalty would be carried in a referendum?

Nor can we accept the argument that plebiscitory democracy 'will take us away from rational decisions'. In our opinion, a rational discussion of any policy is only possible if the public at large and all points of view can be aired and all voters have the final say on the issue - not only politicians that are beholden to parties, the party whip or lobbies that operate behind closed doors and have privileged access to the media and the decision makers.

 






By giving the reader examples of recent policy decisions we highlight the dramatic impact the introduction of Direct Democracy would have on the political life of all countries.

All the following decisions where taken without the participation of the affected citizens. Some - if not most - were highly controversial and have a negative effect for at least some major parts of the country's population.

The present system of government lnot only leaves the citizens powerless in the face of a never-ending tide of legislation, it also inevitably leads to inefficient use of taxpayer's money and a steady erosion of civil liberties.



GENERAL

Should former politicians be allowed to cash in from books and lecture tours?

Unequal regional distribution of tax burden

Forum demands that climate tax be redistributed on global basis



CLIMATE CHANGE AND POPULATION

Cap-and-Trade of Carbon Permits and ideal vehicle for fraud

Green Energy plan may cost 17 times more than its benefits




EUROPE


EU wants to attract more refugees

EU Parliament costs Euro 1.5 Billion annually

Monster Trucks up to 60 tons may be allowed



UNITED KINGDOM

Parents may lose right to boycott school sex lessons

Britain to support $ 500 Mio donation to Taleban

Committee calls for additional tax on air travel




GERMANY


Solar Subsidy reaches 20 billion Euro

New tax on USB memory sticks

Free Gas, Power for Unemployed, Hartz recipients



AUSTRIA

VAT thresholds manipulated

Teenagers over 16 allowed to vote

Parties change Members of Parliament at will
 

 

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