Scotland's Referendum - is that process not prideful?

So many references to “initiatives’ (followed by binding referendums) in recent news articles. When will we, in democratic Canada, finally note such in our media?

          Just why is it that many of us hesitate to endorse citizen-initiated referendums upon issues, when we don’t see the dilemmas caused by  our encouragement of those same people voting for   representatives? For, what can be so complex as the character of a person, with his party allegiances, unfulfilling promises, and his unknown to us, back-room influences? And so,  just why do not we see the conflicts about encouraging voting upon such  as Toronto’s mayor – Ford, for example?  Yet, we hesitate to encourage those same  people voting upon relatively simple to explain issues, in this day of easy communication?

         Recently in the international magazine, The Economist, there was a lengthy review of  the upcoming referendum about Scottish independence. It intimated within the article, some embarrassment abroad about   Britain, in the possible outcome. A letter to the editor in a subsequent issue of the magazine from a resident of California, (where   referendums have been common-place since the early 1900’s,) tried to reassure them. To quote him – “whatever the outcome, the parties’ use of a peaceful referendum to settle a complicated political question should be seen as a source of pride”.

         Such a clear point of view. So much better – than, for example, in eastern Ukraine, where there is obvious differing views among very many residents, between staying within the country, and either federating, or separating;  – and where we have a neighbouring power, Russia, intervening, with potential world-wide conflict.

         When will we recognize the ability of our citizens,  so long as proper safeguards are included, to vote upon significant issues? Yes, leadership is very important; but as is so clear, the power that sometimes is manifested through leadership, can be easily provoked into terrible consequences. Politicians just cannot be expected to know the right answers to everything. We, the people should prefer to provide our own binding conclusions to whatever issues we decide are worth our intercession.  Don’t you agree that that is the essence of democracy, - “directly” influencing the decisions? - as in Scotland.

        

         

Corporations Requiring Shareholder Approval of Exec. Remunerations.

This article describes the detail to which citizens (in this case Swiss) can individually control or affect the operations of important institutions within their country – if the country has effective rules within which issues may be determined by referendum votes. You get the gist of it by referring to the extensive, 2014 “report of the Board of Directors on the Revision of the Articles of Association”  - of a very large, international, corporation – Nestle`s; (the chocolate etc. company).

         On March 3, 2013, the citizens of Switzerland approved an initiative of one citizen who had been dismayed by the compensation of which he had become aware  being given, to some   directors, of some Swiss companies.; this, despite some less than admirable financial results of such companies.   As a minor shareholder in such companies he had thought this was wrong -  as it was!

          And so, he determined to overcome that. After many months, drafting and re-drafting proposals, he had managed to get ten percent of the citizens to sign a petition requesting a vote on the subject. And the citizens ultimately approved what is now called – “article 95, para 3, of the Swiss Federal Constitution”. And following that the Swiss Federal Council (sort of the Swiss “executive” – a 7 person board), enacted the details required to put the law into operating effect. This was as of Jan. 1, 2014.

         It required that all Swiss corporations have a form of Compensation Committee, to, among other things, approve the compensation of the top directors and executive of  that corporation.  Nestle’s by-laws had to be extensively amended (with expected,   approval of the shareholders). That will  ensure that such bonuses – or even loans to such officers, will be within effective and proper control – by this separately elected compensation committee; and that such committee is to have a one-year term only – to ensure that its independence is actual, and not demeaned in any way. It can even determine performance criteria, around which such compensation would relate. There are many details within the new   proposed  bylaws  to ensure that it will all actually work.

         Such a good idea – as complex as its development must require! And this initiated by a single citizen!

         It just illustrates how a country can permit involvement of its citizenry in important issues, which otherwise might well not become enacted due to inertia, or lack of sufficient favour by the ruling elite.

         Would that we could empower our citizens in such fashion! But – then again, why not? All it needs is for a sufficient number of us to push a favourite party leader toward that direction. It is called “Direct Democracy”. When are we, in Ontario,  going to uphold our alleged rights as citizens within a democracy – to vote upon issues? Why don’t you be one of them to start the movement

Referendums or Rebellions?

         Revolts in Brazil, over the huge World Cup expenditures, have been in the news.  Considering the huge amounts spent, the uprisings are understandable, aren’t they? 

         Would it not have been better to have had a referendum about the issues?

         They did that in Kracow Poland, recently about a proposal to have the Olympic games held there. Apparently the citizens there voted against the idea – due to the   huge costs anticipated.

         That surely is  the right way to handle such issues, would not all of us who support the principle of democracy, agree? 

         Just why are not more referendums utilized throughout those parts of the world that are not autocratically led? It could be that they are not as democratic as they pretend to be.  Leaders of whatever persuasion seem to believe they have the power and right to do whatever they deem best for the people. And, they do not wish to be second-guessed by the very people they lead. 

         But, areas which have advanced their democratic processes to include the rights to initiatives and thence referendums, do seem to get along very successfully. That includes Switzerland, not just the country , but the cantons and municipalities. There, on March 3, 2013   the people voted not to increase a minimum wage. Citizens in a democracy must be trusted to understand what is best. That is what democracy is all  about.

         Almost half of the United States have frequent referendums  - which do not seem to upset the successful running of those states.

          Could we not expand the trust and understanding of more citizens if we permitted them to have votes on issues? Such vote would of course have to be binding upon the government. Apparently referendums in Italy are often just ignored by their legislators; and the Supreme Court would have to understand their role as interpreters of laws . Although it is extremely difficult to fulfill the strict conditions set out in British Columbia’s referendum laws, the courts there have interpreted at least one such effort with proper sympathy. Will more be forthcoming soon?

         Modern democracy seems to demand it, if we are to be governed by more than protests and rebellions.

        

         

E-voting coming to the fore!

The area of Venuto in Italy (Venice and surroundings) has just proven the effectiveness, and ease of voting via what is called “e-voting”, in a referendum upon independence of that region from the rest of Italy. Some 2.3 million people out of an eligible number of 3.7 million   voted, during a period of  5 days. And   89 % voted in favour of independence, some 2.1 million  of them 

         It seems that that area provides an extra large percentage of the taxes used throughout the rest of the country, without receiving similar return benefits; and citizens wanted to return to the days when the Venitian area was a major independent community, within the world.

         But, the interesting aspect for our purposes was the relative ease of involving the citizenry in an important issue. Those who did not use the  internet, (one could even vote via smart-phones), could vote in the normal paper vote fashion. Means have now been developed to ensure propriety and avoidance of anything fraud-like, through the  provision of  safe ID’s. It seems that some 18 countries now use such internet processes to permit such voting.

         Such a boon this should be to permit voters to communicate their opinions upon any number of important issues. Maybe the world will awaken its dormant, democratic lapses, via this simple, and now proven, effective procedure.

         It is not clear yet to what extent the main government of Italy will  acknowledge this disuniting decision. But it must pay attention to it, to its peril, if it ignores such clear result. Only eleven percent   voted against independence, while but .29  percent of the votes were deemed improper. An independent commission supervised the vote to ensure propriety.

         This story was fulsomely reported by many news agencies on Mar. 26. It was suggested that several other European areas, including a couple of others from Italy, may pursue similar votes soon.

        

         

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.

          

         

Swiss vote to limit immigration quotas.

     The Swiss people once again have voted contrary to the wishes of their government. On Sunday Feb. 9,  by a country-wide referendum, some 50.3% of the voters –  just 30,000 more votes than the contrary,  backed a proposal by one of the minor political parties to have quotas for immigrants. This  will require the government to renegotiate treaties with the European Union countries, a very awkward  situation. For until then citizens from most EU members states could freely move to  and work in Switzerland, just as the Swiss could do so within most EU states.

         Many business groups have complained about the result, suggesting that jobs could be compromised, but the majority of the Swiss were not swayed. They seemingly fear that increasing number of immigrants are not good for their federation; some point to an especially large number of new Muslim immigrants as being part of the problem. Switzerland’s healthy economy and high salaries had, it seems,  caused about ¼ of all the 8 million people now living there to come in, in recent years, from other countries.  Indeed, according to the National Post article of Feb. 11, some 80,000 people had moved to little Switzerland just last year.

         Regardless, once again the Swiss people have made their opinions  felt. Whether or not the end result will cause them undue problems, only time will tell. But the peoples’ voices are what count in Switzerland. No doubt many of the 26 EU states which have encouraged increased movement of peoples, will be considerably dismayed. Brussells has already voiced annoyance. They will   try to find ways to penalize the Swiss – which must negotiate all treaties on a bilateral basis. This is because it previously had chosen (by a previous citizen vote) not to officially be a part of the actual Union.

        

        

         

Senate Reform - by referendum - in Canada!

        Referendums; – here is an example, but on a smaller scale, of a process just like that often followed in many US states,  other international areas, and, especially,  Switzerland. Former Reform Party leader Preston Manning, and former Alberta cabinet minister, Ted Morton are asking Canadians to vote on the future of the Senate. This is via responding to the website – www.reformorabolish.ca The alternatives are shown therein – to abolish the Senate now, or by 2025, keep the status quo, or major or minor reforms.

         The two will be presenting the results at a party convention in late February. According to the National Post, in which this story appeared, the Conservative Party has already asked the Supreme Court what it would take to reform or abolish this important upper chamber of our democratic system.

         Surely this method – asking the people what they think, is a vital manner to answer this important question, in a supposedly democratic country – such as our own.  I must say that I would prefer it to be more broadly communicated (within the whole country) - but, it clearly is the right direction. Why not check it out?