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Direct Democracy Campaign

Twelve Questions and Answers

Q What is Direct Democracy?
A Direct Democracy is a form of government under which we the public vote directly on many of the issues, unlike the existing Representative Democracy where we just vote for MPs, councillors and the like, to take all the decisions for us.

Q You mean its about referendums?
A     Yes that's the main bit, although it also encourages people to get more generally involved in running their communities.

Q So what is the Direct Democracy campaign?
A     It's a campaign set up in 1999 to work for direct democracy in the UK. It is not tied to any particular political cause or party, and there are many similar groups working for the same thing in other countries around the world. We will address meetings; speak to the press; liase with like minded politicians academics and other interested individuals; and in general publicise the cause of direct democracy by whatever means are available.

Q But why set up a new group, when you could just as easily campaign from inside one of the political parties?
A     Because the leaders of all the big political parties are deeply opposed to direct democracy. After all, nobody likes having some of their powers taken away.

Q All right, but what are the advantages of Direct Democracy anyway?
A     Many. For a start, it means that voters are not just restricted to voting for a party manifesto once every four years or so, even when they disagree with many of the policies contained in it. Under Direct Democracy we will be able to vote for those policies we actually agree with, but against the ones we think are wrong. It means that politicians will not be able to get away with policies that the voters at large don't want. It means that voters themselves will be able to raise issues that the politicians are avoiding. It means...........

Q Hold on, are you saying that it won't just be the government who could call referendums?
A     Yes! Under Direct Democracy anybody can call a referendum, be they government or local council, or just an agreed percentage of the electorate signing a petition detailing the question to be asked. There is no reason why writing the question should always be in the hands of the politicians.

Q Doesn't all this mean an awful lot of voting all the time?
A     Not really. In Switzerland the government deals with all the legislative details then puts the big questions to the voters to decide on, along with any issues which the voters themselves have raised. Voters vote up to four times a year, and in the future that will probably be done electronically from home, rather than having to traipse to the polling station every time.

Q So you're saying that Direct Democracy exists in Switzerland already?
A     Yes, they've had it for nearly a hundred and fifty years now, and it not only works nationally, but they use it at county and local level as well. The Swiss people really are in control of their government and local councils, not the other way round. The people vote on economic and social issues, on the constitution, foreign affairs, health, the environment, and also all the issues that crop up at the local level right down to planning applications. And the Swiss are not the only ones. Most democracies hold referendums at some time or another, but some hold far more than others. Recently Italy, Australia, Canada, France, Denmark and Ireland have held referendums, and over half of the states of the United States hold them on a regular basis as a way of taking decisions on local issues.

Q OK, this all sounds very fine, but surely the politicians know better than we do, what's right for the country?
A     That's what they'll tell you of course, but ask yourself this:- If the politicians are so good at knowing what's best for the country, then why is it that the two main parties are always going at each other hammer and tongs, each insisting that the other one in government is totally incapable of organising a wine tasting in a vineyard? The reality is that we the voters would be just as good at taking the decisions as they are, if not better. Remember that the Swiss are now the richest country per head of population in Europe. They don't seem to have done too badly on Direct Democracy.

Q But Britain is different we don't have a tradition of using referendums.
A     No, but then we didn't have a tradition of votes for women either before we gave women the vote. Tradition must never be an excuse to avoid change. Today we are better educated than ever before, more inclined to argue with our politicians, and much more aware, via the media, of what's going on in the world. We have grown up, and it's time to start taking the decisions for ourselves.

Q All right, but what about all those pressure groups - big business and the like. Wouldn't they use money to influence the outcome of referendums?
A     There are 650 MPs, but forty million of us voters. Just think how much more the pressure groups can use this 'influence' when there are only 650 targets to aim at.

Q OK, you've convinced me, so what can I do to help?
A     Lots of things. Today in the UK we have only partial democracy. Internationally, Direct Democracy is the way of the future, but because our government institutions are so deeply entrenched, it will only happen here in the near future if we make it. Direct Democracy itself is about each of us playing our part. So with or without the politicians agreement, let's get to work. Click on the DDC Action Page for ideas about what you can do.

'Let the people decide................'

E-mail: directdemo@rodmell.nospamprestel.co.uk

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