Swiss vote against increases in their holidays

Voting not to increase your statutory holiday time? That just occurred several weeks ago in Switzerland. Some 65% of the voters there concluded they did not want to put themselves into the shoes of the economically awkward French, Germans, or Greeks. The idea was to increase the yearly holidays from 4 to 6 weeks, as in those other countries. The unions wanted it. The common sense of the people came into play once again. They said it cannot be afforded.

Who says that people do not know enough to vote upon economic issues?

Would that we had such access to our government's failure to watch its indebtedness. Would not our people tell the Liberal government that it must get better control of the teacher's union by refusing their currently outrageous demands, especially in these rough times; if only we had a chance to vote upon such an issue? Not just that but other aspects of debt, which is growing so high.

Why cannot we prevail upon our own government to establish proper boundaries for Direct Democracy to work here in Ontario? It is our government isn't it? Tell your member we want it!

Quebec Students Need Democracy Aids

It is hard to talk unemotionally about those revolting students in Quebec. Were they for real? As allegedly mature students did they not realize that what they were doing was akin to complete anarchy? However, note that, between revolting protests they talked often about wanting to improve democracy. Their wild, unconstrained method was surely the wrong way to do that.
Well, what if in Quebec  they had a proper form of Direct Democracy?  Democracy is supposed to represent the views of the majority. Then, if their views about the proposed increase in their tuition fees had a majority opinion, that could be readily determined; without disrupting the whole society, or breaking windows.  And, the government would have to let a referendum be pursued if a specified number of citizens (say 5%) signed an appropriate petition. The students readily could have organized that detail. And all of Quebec would have to follow the results of the ensuing question.
And the students could have been very pleased that their efforts would have been civilized, and more importantly, worthwhile, as deemed by the majority of their fellow citizens.
Caving in by the new Marois government simply puts off even less civilized behaviour, by other unconstrained pressure groups, for other matters, in the future.

British referendum not truly Direct Democracy

    Prime Minister David Cameron, of England, is proposing a referendum among his people as to their desire in remaining within the European Union. This is to take place hopefully in 2017, after an anticipated election about that time. In the meantime, he hopes to arrange some better terms.
This is an example of an effort to obtain a   concluded decision  from the people in a democratic fashion, that is for sure. And it is clearly proper for such an important issue to be settled by the people - rather than by possibly split political parties.  However,  do not confuse it with efforts to expand the idea of direct democracy. For in the latter case that involves  a binding process initiated by the people.
This is one initiated by the government of the time.
    At the moment there is no procedure within the UK to permit initiatives from the people, resulting in binding referendums. That is the the  only way it is done in Switzerland, for example, where via that method, the Swiss people did vote several years ago not to join the EU. The Swiss are rightly pleased at that decision, seeing the troubles now confronting the EU. And the Swiss people pursue similar types of referendums often.
    Perhaps, however, the Brits, seeing an opportunity to voice their own opinions upon an important issue on this one occasion, will push their government to give them more opportunities to do similarly in the future. For it is certainly right that the people should have a direct say in  important issues, especially in this modern age of easy communication.
    Don't you agree - even though we have no way to have any say about any issues, yet, here in Canada?