DIRDEM     March 2010

 

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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.






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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