Demand a citizens' recall
Trevor Watkins
Nobody! That’s our problem. We have very limited mechanisms for
holding the incompetents and crooks accountable, so our problems
continue and escalate. Our much touted constitution has let the
people of South Africa down badly in the area of official
accountability.
As a citizen you get ONE chance every FIVE years to hold the current
government responsible for EVERYTHING they have done, good, bad, and
forgotten. That is such a dumb system I am amazed that anyone can be
persuaded to fall for it. Can you imagine if a supplier like Pick 'n
Pay opened its complaints department for ONE complaint per person,
once every 5 years? Can you imagine a business that allowed its
shareholders to vote only once in 5 years?
Accountability is essential for good governance. The success of
America, it has been said, was built on two words - “You’re fired.” In
much the same vein, Dr Samuel Johnson said “Nothing concentrates the
mind like the threat of a good hanging.” If we are even remotely
serious about improving our country, fighting corruption and crime,
delivering services, then we must start holding the officials
responsible for these tasks accountable to the people who elect and
pay them. This is simply done. You don’t need to setup a conference,
or hold a commission of enquiry, or hire extra consultants. Just
implement the concept of a “Citizens’ Recall”.
Many states in the U.S. allow a citizens’ recall, under varying
conditions, although there is no federal equivalent. Arnold
Schwarzenegger became Governor of California after his predecessor was
successfully recalled by popular vote. No politician or civil servant
can feel safe in office, protected for at least 5 years, when faced
with the threat of a citizens’ recall.
In our recent past, the president of South Africa was recalled, not by
popular vote, but by political skulduggery. Nevertheless, the sky did
not fall in, there was no more chaos than usual. A replacement was
found, and the business of government continued. In fact, our
democracy improved as a direct result of this recall. And, by all
accounts, so did our governance.
I propose the following plan for a citizens’ recall in South Africa:
1. Any elected official or civil servant paid from taxes is subject to
recall.
2. In the event of a successful recall, as defined below, the recalled
official is immediately removed from office. A recall is a punishment
for an official judged to be incompetent by a significant number of
the citizens who pay the official’s salary. The official receives one
month’s salary in lieu of notice, only. The official is not placed on
suspension, there is no appeal, no labour or other employment
regulations apply, no prior contractual agreements may be invoked. The
effect, for legal purposes, is as if the official had died in office.
3. For an elected official, a recall succeeds if the number of recall
ballots exceeds 25% of the votes cast for that official in the last
election. A by-election will be called to replace the recalled
official. The recalled official may not stand in this by-election.
4. For an official elected by proportional representation, the number
of votes cast for that official is calculated as the total number of
votes cast for the official’s party divided by the number of officials
actually elected. For example, if party X receives 100,000 votes,
resulting in 10 officials getting elected, then the votes cast per
official is deemed to be 10,000, and the recall target is 25% of
10,000, or 2,500.
5. For an appointed civil servant, the recall succeeds if the number
of recall ballots exceeds 10% of that official’s basic monthly salary
in Rands, before any extras or incentives. The official may not re-
apply for the same position.
6. A recall ballot may be initiated by any South African citizen
against any specific official.
7. Any South African citizen who is eligible to vote (name appears on
the voters roll) may vote on a recall ballot.
8. A citizen may vote on an authorised ballot issued by the initiator
of the ballot, at any state office (Post Office, SARS, Home Affairs,
Police Station, etc), through ATMs managed by participating banks,
through an authorised website, or by cellphone sms to an authorised
service provider.
9. In all votes the voter’s identity will be confirmed and will be
validated against the voters roll, as for any ordinary election.
Thereafter, the vote will be anonymous (i.e no record of the identity
of the voters on a ballot is kept.) Only one vote per citizen per
ballot is allowed.
What would be the effect of instituting a citizen’s recall? The
performance of every government official from the humblest to the
mightiest, would be subject to review, not by a toothless audit
committee, nor a bunch of like-minded cronies, nor loyal members of
the official’s own party, nor an equally incompetent boss, but by an
independent group of citizens interested only in getting value for
their hard-earned tax rands. The civil servants would quake in their
boots. They would wet themselves. They would instantly focus on how to
please their constituents, instead of their boss, or their party. They
would know that corruption and incompetence could actually cost them a
seat on the gravy train. They might even start serving the community
instead of themselves.
Would this lead to chaos in a civil service already stretched to
breaking point? Would civil servants leave government employ in
droves? Would the unions never allow it? It is the incompetent time-
servers already in government who are responsible for the current
crisis. Getting rid of them could only improve the situation, like
removing poison from your body. South Africa’s problem is
unemployment - there are literally millions waiting for a chance to
prove themselves by taking over the jobs of departing civil servants.
Even if the new guys are useless, at least we now have a mechanism for
sorting the wheat from the chaff. Of course the unions would oppose
such a proposal. They oppose anything that threatens their comfortable
stranglehold on the country and the economy. But nothing worthwhile is
achieved without effort.
As a South African citizen, your one chance in 5 years to make your
voice heard is here now! For a few brief months all the politicians
are actually listening to what you have to say. Use this rare
opportunity to insist that you will only vote for a party that
supports the concept of a citizens’ recall.
Trevor Watkins
recall is oh so passe and boring that it is not worthy of even a
single response (who, me, bitter?), have a look at the opinions of the
man-in-the-street on the subject at
http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/readerblog/2009/02/05/demand-a-citizens-recall-now/#comment-70095
Galen Sher
From: Trevor Watkins <bas...@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 23, 2010 at 4:03 PM
Subject: Re: Demand a citizens' recall
To: Galen Sher <gale...@gmail.com>
The email must be sent to li...@googlegroups.com to go to all libsa
Trevor Watkins - Base Software
bas...@gmail.com 083 44 11 721 - 042 293 1405 - (fax)0866 532 363
http://sketchesbyboz37.blogspot.com http://libsa.myfreeforum.org
PO Box 3302, Jeffreys Bay, 6330
why is this conversation not appearing on LibSA? It would be better if everyone there could follow.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Galen Sher <gale...@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 23, 2010 at 2:51 PM
Subject: Re: Demand a citizens' recall
To: Trevor Watkins <bas...@gmail.com>
Thanks Trevor. By this interpretation, it seems you agree with my take that a citizens' recall is less necessary than an informed electorate that votes on policies and performance. I believe the latter is the easier goal.
On Mon, Aug 23, 2010 at 2:43 PM, Trevor Watkins <bas...@gmail.com> wrote:
'All' we need is for South Africans to get informed and to vote based on policies and performance rather than on devotion to one liberation movement.Ah, do you mean like all those Afrikaners did for forty years...?To make it blindingly simple. For over 40 years, white South African Afrikaners voted for one particular "liberation" movement called the National party, irrespective of its policies and performance, dire as these were. Our current bunch of voters still have 24 years to go before they come close to this record.
Trevor Watkins - Base Software
bas...@gmail.com 083 44 11 721 - 042 293 1405 - (fax)0866 532 363
http://sketchesbyboz37.blogspot.com http://libsa.myfreeforum.org
PO Box 3302, Jeffreys Bay, 6330
On 23 August 2010 13:15, Galen Sher <gale...@gmail.com> wrote:
I don't see the analogy there. Nevertheless, would a citizens' recall have made a difference if it were exclusionary?
On Sat, Aug 21, 2010 at 10:23 AM, Trevor Watkins <bas...@gmail.com> wrote:
Ah, do you mean like all those Afrikaners did for forty years...?
Trevor Watkins
On 20 August 2010 10:51, Galen <gale...@gmail.com> wrote:
I don't even know if a citizen's recall is strictly necessary. 'All'
we need is for South Africans to get informed and to vote based on
policies and performance rather than on devotion to one liberation
movement.
oblever
serious about improving our country, fighting corruption and crime,
delivering services, then we must start holding the officials
responsible for these tasks accountable to the people who elect and
pay them.
unemployment - there are literally millions waiting for a chance to
prove themselves by taking over the jobs of departing civil servants.
Even if the new guys are useless, at least we now have a mechanism for
sorting the wheat from the chaff.
policies and performance rather than on devotion to one liberation
movement.
On Thursday, 22 January 2009 12:32:59 UTC+2, Trevor Watkins wrote:
Who is accountable for the mess South Africa is in today?
Nobody! That’s our problem...........................
Sasha Hitchner
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Trevor Watkins
From: JIM HARRIS <jmha...@acenet.co.za>
Date: 22 January 2009 19:35
Subject: RE: Demand a citizens' recall
To: Trevor Watkins <bas...@gmail.com>
Recall - interesting digression.
I had an existentialist moment doing the dishes. The absurdity of it all. I had a sudden vision of somewhere in central Asia back in the good old days. Rumours trickling in of a giant unstoppable horse-horde led by that Ginghis Kahn chappie. People unable to absorb the meaning of it all, getting on with their busy lives, enthusiastically planting their veggies, meeting their mates to discuss local politics, devising ways to improve irrigation or fire-watch, writing indignant letters about potholes and housebreakings to the local rag, and so on.
Here we sit, Trevor, at (in?) a periodic cusp/shift/break in history. I'm not even sure anymore whether Fislam or the Crash is the main threat and there could be others sweeping in like tsunami waves for all anyone knows.
And all I know is that nothing - nothing – happening in Southern Africa will make a blind bit of difference to our fates as global citizens-denizens. This hopeless continent is simply wholly irrelevant in the greater scheme of things even if it was producing any significant movers and shakers.
Well, I never expect you to respond to the point (probably a compliment?) but I always need someone at whom to aim pondering emails.
Here are a couple of today's bearing somewhat on the absurdity of the local game. BTW I comment weekly on FMF articles, generally ending roughly “but where's the possibly-effective change-persuasive argument?”
Commenting:
The key to SA’s chronic and persistently high rates of unemploymentBy Jasson Urbach
The ANC’s recently released election manifesto … places the “Creation of decent work and sustainable livelihoods” as its number one priority and wouldn’t it be luvly to assume they imply their promotion of fast (or any) economic growth as the route … rather than merely the endless racist redistribution of assets and opportunities
… the grandiose goal of halving this rate by 2014 … yes, it was/is a large, ambitious, imposing/impressive (grandiose) and highly desirable (sub-)goal, simply unachievable within assorted constraints out of which the ANC can’t/won’t break as it …continues with its existing policies and strategies.
one can easily lose sight of their primary role – to raise the wages and improve the working conditions of their members relative to equally productive workers in an identical, competitive, non-unionised sector. Unionists wouldn’t agree with that rather anti-union ‘mind-reading’!
To do this, trade unions have to block potential competition – usually from low-skilled individuals who are willing to accept lower wages rather than face the bleak option of being unemployed with the consequence of starvation for themselves and their dependants.
For workers within the unionised sector, wages are (or, can temporarily appear relatively more) secure but inequality in the general population increases because some individuals are earning money whilst others are effectively prevented from entering the market at the lower end. You could of course get such effects with unions not especially privileged by government, through their (human-rights/constitutional) free associations and agreements with uncoerced employers. I guess the part we’re properly against is only the state-privileging of unions and their demands over against employers/others.
In order to achieve the ruling party’s stated objective of radically reducing unemployment, we must carefully weigh how labour market policies affect unemployment and hence SA’s prospects for growth and reducing poverty. In this regard, it is important that we do not focus just on the good intentions behind these policies but, perhaps even more importantly, rigorously investigate any unintended consequences. Considering the role of labour unions (partly to bargain collectively and partly to block the entry of potential competition), it should be clear that they have a vested interest in ensuring that their members are protected, whatever the implications of that protection may be. They are primarily concerned with the interests of their members and the rights of ordinary South Africans come second. Isn’t that true of any/all other sectoral groupings – employers, politicians, public servants, think-tankers, clerics, consumers, etc.? Isn’t it more a matter of how one views protection and government’s various other roles and ‘services’? Isn’t SA full of pro-government thinking? So doesn’t this whole paragraph speak truth (as we see it) in a manner extremely unlikely to influence local thinking? … Hey I keep conceding I also don’t have the trick, the answer, the words that will work the desired magic. It’s simply the challenge we’re not yet rising to meet effectively. Must try harder. F- Just kidding. B- J…j
Government, current and post-election, must start to think honestly and sincerely about ordinary, poor South Africans – regardless of colour. It has to weigh up the risks of taking on vested interests … problem is, in this premature effectively-unlimited democracy the Xhosa/Nguni/black-black majority rules to further its vested interests in endless redistribution, so much faster-delivering than the faster economic growth we’d prefer. |
From George Soros’ Quantum Fund co-founder Jim Rogers:
‘The idea that you can fix a period of excessive borrowing and excessive consumption by more borrowing and more consumption to me is just ludicrous.’
Something, however, has to be done and I suppose it’s too much to hope that our wise global leaders will do the ‘something’ of doing nothing. Especially Obama/Sarko/Brown. Maybe we should be looking out for places with Reagan/Coolidge-type leaders. When Coolidge was reported dead, Dorothy Parker asked ‘How can they tell?’
SAIRR’s 01/2009 Fast Facts assembles some recent leadership quotes.
(15/22.10 BD) ANC pres Jacob Zuma: ‘We have to achieve sound economic growth and development’ … ‘We will have to simultaneously accelerate economic growth and transform the quality of that growth – we have made the creation of decent work, poverty eradication, and combating inequality the centre of our economic policies. We are very determined to achieve thses goals to improve the standard of living of the poor and the working class.’
(3.10 M&G) SA pres Kgalema Motlanthe was a Manuel-like hint that the welfare state needs shrinking. ‘The fact that 12-million of our (48m) people are recipients of grants is not sustainable; for their own dignity it’s much better if people have decent jobs.’
BTW (16.1 FM) NWC planner Jeff Radebe clarifies the ANC election manifesto that ‘decent work’ is ‘the cornerstone of all our efforts’ and will need ‘laws to regulate contract work, subcontracting and outsourcing, steps to reduce the role of labour brokers who rent out labour to large corporations on flexible terms, and punishing employers who don’t provide decent work by refusing them state tenders.’ Also, Reserve Bank’s focus will need to change to include job creation.
(12.10 S Ind) imminent (I reckon) finance minister (Mathews Phosa): ‘We (SA’s post-Polokwane ANC leadership) want to direct more funds to create better infrastructure in the health, education, and housing sectors. We also want to accelerate infrastructure creation to alleviate poverty. We understand, however, that we cannot kill the goose that lays the golden eggs, namely the private sector. So we will be doing everything possible in our power to create a policy and regulatory framework within which the private sector can prosper and create tax rands for us with which we can accelerate delivery and expand our network of social services.’
So - does the ANC want real GDPpercapita growth?
… or only for GDP not to shrink too much?
Hi Vivian. Your homeland’s not so different, eh? So far, two rather sadly stagnating economies. Lots of work for us freemarketers to do! J…j
Worldbank showed only a couple of middle years (1990/1995) of Cameroon’s tax%ofGDP, at 9.8% and 8.6% - like China/India rather than SA’s current 29%. I’d be interested to know from you if government’s effective take/share of the economy is really so low – and if so, what else is wholly stifling growth?.
|
Cameroon |
EF |
$GDPpc |
population |
life expy. |
savings |
|
|
|
const 2000 $ |
years |
% of GDP |
|
|
1970 |
|
493.2 |
6,837,790.00 |
46.2 |
7.4 |
|
1975 |
|
594.3 |
7,824,647.00 |
|
7.6 |
|
1980 |
5.8 |
698.3 |
9,078,130.00 |
51.5 |
6.3 |
|
1985 |
5.8 |
941.9 |
10,514,988.00 |
54.2 |
24.2 |
|
1990 |
5.7 |
718.4 |
12,238,909.00 |
54.6 |
16.1 |
|
1995 |
5.2 |
568.4 |
14,058,403.00 |
53 |
13.7 |
|
2000 |
5.7 |
635.2 |
15,860,778.00 |
50.8 |
16.1 |
|
2001 |
6 |
648.4 |
16,240,110.00 |
|
16.7 |
|
2002 |
5.9 |
658.7 |
16,627,376.00 |
49.8 |
15.1 |
|
2003 |
5.9 |
669.5 |
17,018,907.00 |
|
15.5 |
|
2004 |
5.9 |
678.7 |
17,409,433.00 |
|
16.9 |
|
2005 |
5.7 |
677.5 |
17,795,149.00 |
50.2 |
14.5 |
|
2006 |
5.8 |
688.3 |
18,174,696.00 |
50.3 |
17.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SA |
EF |
$GDPpc |
population |
life expy. |
savings |
|
|
|
const 2000 $ |
years |
% of GDP |
|
|
1970 |
6.7 |
3,104.00 |
22,087,000.00 |
53.1 |
20.8 |
|
1975 |
5.9 |
3,316.50 |
24,728,000.00 |
|
24.4 |
|
1980 |
5.8 |
3,463.20 |
27,576,000.00 |
57.1 |
34.1 |
|
1985 |
5.4 |
3,262.70 |
31,307,880.00 |
59.4 |
25 |
|
1990 |
5.3 |
3,151.80 |
35,200,000.00 |
61.9 |
19.5 |
|
1995 |
6.3 |
2,960.40 |
39,120,000.00 |
58 |
16.5 |
|
2000 |
7 |
3,019.90 |
44,000,000.00 |
48.5 |
15.8 |
|
2001 |
6.9 |
3,046.30 |
44,812,420.90 |
|
15.6 |
|
2002 |
6.9 |
3,127.80 |
45,245,622.00 |
46.5 |
16.9 |
|
2003 |
7 |
3,186.30 |
45,801,325.00 |
45.5 |
15.8 |
|
2004 |
6.9 |
3,301.10 |
46,347,516.00 |
44.6 |
14.4 |
|
2005 |
7.1 |
3,429.00 |
46,892,428.00 |
47.7 |
14.2 |
|
2006 |
7 |
3,562.10 |
47,391,025.00 |
50.7 |
13.9 |
< I haven't checked this out. If anyone does, please let me know if it's a hoax.>
Dunno, Leon, but it’s an illuminating narrative (and isn’t all of history?) and fairly in line with global trends as explored for example in Mark Steyn’s “America Alone”. However I doubt that short twenty years for Britain (unlike say France) and anyway we know how dodgy it can be projecting population or other trends (near or) far into the future. Plus it’s unsurprisingly appearing that not all non-Muslim populations are equally prone to conversion. But no doubt there will be some Muslim-dominated local councils soon enough, as already here and there in Europe. And then, so what?
Reminds me of when I asked our pleasant Gerhardt’s co-owner the Muslim Indian the same kind of Koranic infidel-killing question and he wisely responded “no comment”. Also reminds me of student days when I used to ask my Irish girlfriend’s Camden pals how they felt about IRA killing of innocent Brits. It’s easier to imagine that such great enemy-groupings predominantly consist of nice family folk like ourselves. And who can access “actual proportions”?
And finally, latest Time mag carries an interesting set of coloured circles proportional to several large $-rescue packages since Rooseveldt’s, in both then-$ and 2009 dollar terms, indicating just how order-of-magnitude larger is the intended Obama package even than Dubya’s.
No doubt – well, 3F - we will all live relatively comfortably through this latest period. Only, like Evron Els (except cabbages) I can’t yet imagine how. So many pricks! J…j
Frances Kendall
Sent from my iPad
Frances Kendall
Sent from my iPad
Trevor Watkins
bas...@gmail.com 083 44 11 721 - 042 293 1405 - (fax)0866 532 363
PO Box 3302, Jeffreys Bay, 6330
Jaco Strauss
Yes, I have to agree with you Trevor as I have also tried it. Hard work, pests such as moles and not to mention the cost of water. Water became very expensive during the last Cape drought when nobody minded the hikes because "something had to be done in order to preserve the water supply".
Of course the price didn't come down again once it started to rain and the dams filled up. Not even after a change of government. The cost of water in Somerset West alone therefore probably makes it economically non-viable.
What I do fine works very well, is a potted herb garden as well as fruit trees in big pots, combined with vermicomposting and water tanks. Most organic waste gets recycled via vermicomposting to produce bumper crops. And pests like moles cannot share in the spoils.
Best of both worlds, you get the pleasure of growing something worthwhile, while reducing your domestic waste and saving money!
But yes, not really applicable to the question of door gardens in townships. So keep up the good work Sasha, I appreciate some of the challenges you must be experiencing.
Jaco Strauss
Cape Town
Sasha Hitchner
Judy Stockill
Where is Joe Slovo? judy
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The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
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Stephen vJ (Gmail)
Well, if there were a Heaven, then I am pretty sure Communists would not be allowed into it.
S.
Jaco Strauss
Jaco Strauss
Cape Town
Trevor Watkins
On Thursday, 22 January 2009 12:32:59 UTC+2, Trevor Watkins wrote:
Who is accountable for the mess South Africa is in today?
Nobody! That’s our problem....This is now becoming more and more important, and worth trying to implement, difficult as it is. But it is only one of a series of key actions we need to take.if we are to turn around the devastating collapses of governance, infrastructure and trust which we now face.
Sasha Hitchner
Judy Stockill
Thanks. It was in the news just after I asked. I am in Joburg.
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