Lots of Referendums!

Crimean Referendum mid March? Venetian area Referendum during a last week of March? Scotland’s upcoming Referendum in Sept.? Quebec Referendum in a few years? Such a lot of citizen participation! Is Direct Democracy finally coming  to the fore?

         Well, in some respects, one could  say so. Despite criticisms about methodology (many would say that the Russians interfered within the Crimean area unduly, (or, indeed, within the overall, though collapsing, Ukraine)). Others would say that the Venetian vote does not bind the country; that Scotland has been trying for such for hundreds of years, without any culmination; and that Quebec’s vote has already occurred twice and should not  be expected to succeed again, even if some strong-willed leaders want it to.

         But, regardless, of appropriateness, all such votes do directly involve the people. And, in that respect they are an improvement over the form of democracy where major decisions are only to be made by the leaders (even where these leaders were elected), or, more aptly, by political parties.     

         And so one should not entirely discount any of  those proceedings.

         But, “Direct Democracy” involves much more than votes introduced by the supposed leaders. It should emanate from the citizens themselves to be truly direct. Where done properly,  such referendums start with a citizen initiative, the wording of which has been approved by an ombudsman (or similar). Such question must then gather up, within a set period of time, a prescribed, large number of citizen signatures,  to show that the  question is seriously held. Then, edited views from both sides are forwarded, to the voters, along with the ballots ,  with the questions to be held at a convenient, inexpensive date. 

         After all of that, if the citizens do approve the vote, the legislatures must follow the decision. That is the turn of events which should be taken occasionally, to ensure that the vote is fair and properly considered.  That is what is meant by true Direct Democracy. And, it is done in many, very successful, modern, political jurisdictions.

         What is happening in the aforementioned, dividing-country referendums does clearly , and properly, involve citizens.

         But, let us not confuse it with the proper process, previously described. That process was done in the Jura area in Switzerland, several years ago,  to separate a portion of a canton from another one.  Similar votes occurred in Czeckoslavakia to successfully divide it into two “nations”. Such might be done in Catalonia, in Spain, soon. 

         Regardless, to involve the people more, especially in this technological age, should be more encouraged; that is, if we are truly serious about the whole ideal of “democracy” - the voice of the people. 

         Referendums, yes; better forms of creation, likewise. Let us hope that we see more of them, soon, before our so vaunted, representative democracy, does not simply fall apart from citizen frustration, and ineffectiveness. 

         Look forward to my up-dating shortly, of a recent Swiss referendum, initiated by a concerned investor, which has caused large corporations in that country to alter its manner of remunerating its directors; and about the recent, international  Economist magazine’s investigation of diminishing democracy, throughout much of the modern world.