| Representative government fails when corrupt | | | | In thinking about direct democracy I was |
| politicians mostly serve corporate and other | | | | reminded of the all too prevalent view that |
| special interests. Then it is crucial for citizens to | | | | Barack Obama will challenge the traditional, money |
| have direct democracy opportunities. This means | | | | dominated two-party control of Washington |
| having the right to place initiatives or referenda on | | | | politics. So, I pose this challenge to Obama: If you |
| ballots that can make new laws, amend | | | | truly represent a force for fixing a divisive and |
| constitutions, recall elected officials, or control | | | | ineffective political system, then why don't you |
| taxes and government spending. | | | | explicitly come out in favor of creating more |
| Though many local and 24 state governments | | | | direct democracy opportunities? Why not |
| provide rules for some ballot measures and | | | | condemn all attempts to crush ballot measures |
| initiatives, they have been limited by diverse | | | | and initiatives? And why not help start a national |
| establishment, status quo political interests on the | | | | discussion of the possibility of a federal ballot |
| left and right that feel threatened by such populist | | | | initiative mechanism? |
| citizen power. | | | | When over 80 percent of Americans see the |
| I was impressed by the recent Wall Street | | | | nation on the wrong track it is fair to conclude |
| Journal article by John Fund: The Far Left's War | | | | that representative government has failed. The |
| on Direct Democracy. He made the point that | | | | two-party plutocracy has too much power. This is |
| direct democracy, though sorely needed, has | | | | the ideal time to recognize the limits of electoral, |
| been successfully crushed by ugly tactics from | | | | representative democracy and become an |
| those interests that would rather use their money | | | | advocate for more direct democracy. |
| and influence to control legislative and other | | | | President Theodore Roosevelt, in 1912, wisely |
| government functions. They fear citizen power. | | | | observed "I believe in the Initiative and |
| They know how to control elections and | | | | Referendum, which should be used not to destroy |
| manipulate voters. "Unfortunately, some special | | | | representative government, but to correct it |
| interests have declared war on the initiative | | | | whenever it becomes misrepresentative." Direct |
| process, using tactics ranging from restrictive laws | | | | democracy is all about converting the notion of |
| to outright thuggery," said Fund. | | | | sovereignty of we the people into reality. |
| I agree with Fund's summation: "Representative | | | | It comes to this: Should we be content to put our |
| government will remain the enduring feature of | | | | faith in elected representative or should we put it |
| American democracy, but the initiative process is | | | | in ourselves? When you vote for candidates you |
| a valuable safety valve. ...attempts to arbitrarily | | | | don't put your faith in yourself, you put it in them. |
| curb the initiative, or to intimidate people from | | | | Haven't we been disappointed enough in those |
| exercising their right to participate, must be | | | | elected? We have less to fear from the will of |
| resisted. It's a civil liberties issue that should unite | | | | the majority than from the actions of dishonest, |
| people of good will on both the right and left." | | | | corrupt and plutocracy-serving elected officials. |
| If this sounds reasonable to you, then the | | | | For political reform seeking Americans the litmus |
| appropriate question to ask of presidential | | | | test for presidential candidates should be whether |
| candidates is straightforward: Do you support | | | | they support more direct democracy. If Obama is |
| providing more direct democracy opportunities? | | | | not just about rhetorical change, but a true |
| Indeed, many people want some way of creating | | | | reformer of the political system, then we need to |
| a federal ballot initiative mechanism whereby the | | | | hear from him on this issue. |
| misdeeds or inaction of government could be | | | | Let him explain whether or not he supports what |
| addressed by Americans voting directly to get | | | | Ralph Nader does, who has said that presidential |
| the transparent and accountable government and | | | | candidates should "put front and center |
| effective public policies they want. A national ballot | | | | empowering the American people in direct |
| measure to end the Iraq war would have | | | | democracy format so they can move in when |
| succeeded in 2006, for example. Putting | | | | their so-called representatives cave in to the |
| Democrats in control of Congress did not work. | | | | interests of big business. ...Campaign finance |
| Do we need the ability to recall a president | | | | reform has got to go hand in hand with direct |
| because of dishonesty, incompetence and | | | | democracy like initiative, referendum, recall." His |
| wrongheaded policies? Yes. | | | | current platform says that we need "more direct |
| Also consider that the two-party plutocracy has | | | | democracy reflecting the preamble to our |
| been able to stifle political opposition by making | | | | constitution which starts with 'we the people,' and |
| third party and independent candidates unable to | | | | not 'we the corporations.'" |
| grasp any real power, as they can do in most | | | | Can you imagine Obama saying these things? I |
| other democracies. | | | | can't. |