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Referendum
Two
kinds of referendum
We propose the introduction of mandatory
confirmation of all major legislation and expenditure by the holding of
referenda (on a national, regional and local level). We propose the introduction of
facultative referenda on other legislation if a certain number of voters can be
mobilised (subject to a quorum)
How not to
conduct a referendum
Transport Politicians all over the world are given the impression that
the £8 congestion charge that drivers into central London have to pay has
been a success. They are keen to emulate this measure and pile another tax
onto the already overtaxed citizen.
An extra argument in favour of the London tax is the claim that the
citizen's of London had been 'consulted'. We beg to differ as there was no
proper legally-binding referendum. A key question that is always
overlooked is also the problem of the wider implications of such a charge.
The present charge is arbitrary and discriminatory: people inside the zone
are not taxed at all, they pay no tax driving through zones that are
nearby. Only in a patchwork of arbitrary rules that constitute the
so-called 'unwritten' British Constitution is it possible to introduce
taxes that are levied only on a certain part of the population. Why is it
not possible that areas that surround Inner London levy a tax on those
that pass through them on their way into and out of London? Should there
not have been separate referenda inside and outside the charging zone and
only a clear majority in both votes would have been a signal to introduce
the congestion tax? Why not vote on the level of the tax, and what
provisions are made on how to repeal the charge when a sufficient number
of citizens wants to abolish or change it
When is a referendum representative?
Quite often the outcome of a referendum is decided by a narrow margin. But
can one really say, that a majority of 1 or even 3 percentage points is a
sufficient mandate for change? And change it always is because otherwise
there would not have been the need to hold a referendum. I think that
certainly the more important decisions should only be approved with a
two-thirds majority. In addition, at least 50 percent of those entitled to
vote should have cast their vote?
Why qualifying quorum is necessary part of
referendum
Yesterday the
Portuguese were given the chance to vote on the introduction of a more liberal
abortion regime. 59 percent were in favour and 44 percent of those eligible to
vote took part. This means that only about a quarter of all possible voters were
actually in favour of the measure. As one can assume that those voters in favour
had more motivation to participate in the referendum there is an inherent bias
in favour of adoption in most referendum campaigns. In order to counteract this
factor is is essential that only those measures that are backed by a qualified
majority of the electorate get adopted. A quorum of 50 percent of the electorate
and a two-thirds majority in important issues appears reasonable. |
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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.
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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
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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
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EUROPE
EU wants to
attract more refugees
EU Parliament
costs Euro 1.5 Billion annually
Monster Trucks up to
60 tons may be allowed
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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
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GERMANY
Solar Subsidy reaches
20 billion Euro
New tax on USB memory
sticks
Free Gas, Power for Unemployed, Hartz recipients
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AUSTRIA
VAT thresholds manipulated
Teenagers over 16 allowed to vote
Parties change Members of Parliament at will
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