By-elections, broken promises and direct democracy

[INIREF*I&R ~ GB]

I&R ~ GB Citizens' Initiative and Referendum
Campaign for direct democracy in Britain
<http://www.iniref.org>

By-elections are coming up --- Manchester Central in November 2012 and
Corby, maybe also in November.

Direct democracy DD supporters can use by-elections to prepare and
rehearse our campaign for future elections.

How?

Demand (or try politely asking) politician-candidates for election to
our Parliament that they should support our proposals for reform of our
antique democracy. See also our election tactics for DD.
<http://www.iniref.org/carta.htm>

For instance, ask them to introduce and support a new law-proposal :::

THE DEMOCRACY BILL
This Bill will set out principles of democracy as rule-by-the-people and
provide regulations for new instruments of citizen-led, issue-based
democracy including:
Citizens' initiative which may be a law proposal and can lead to binding
ballot of the electorate,
Veto referendum with which the electorate can block an unwanted
government law or policy,
Recall -- sacking by the electorate -- of elected officials such as MPs.

BROKEN PROMISES
"We will give residents the power to instigate local referendums on any
local issue." Con/Libdem Coalition agreement HM Government UK 2010. This
item was thrown out of the Localism Bill by Liberal Democrat (!) peers
in cahoots with lobbyists such as local government associations and
large building companies. So, the prospects for local democracy with
this government look bleak.

David Cameron promised that if elected he would introduce
citizen-initiated referendum both at local and national levels. In
government the coalition allows us to petition parliament by collecting
thousands of signatures. We have enjoyed the right to petition
parliament for hundreds of years so we gain little. No citizens' right
to demand and obtain a national referendum is foreseen.
-----------------------------
Recent governments were elected on promises to reform our democratic
system but they have failed to keep their promises.

We demand that they must do better in future! We must press politicians
to keep their word; obtain from them new guarantees for early reform.

[Special Care]

This is ridiculous.

Politicians are chosen from the start by the ruling group for their
stupidity and their malleability.

You are like King Canute.

This is a case of COLLECTIVE MENTAL ILLNESS afflicting all seven
billion human beings.

Politicians are a product of that COLLECTIVE MENTAL ILLNESS.

You've got the cart before the horse.

First address the COLLECTIVE MENTAL ILLNESS afflicting all seven
billion human beings.
==============================================
The best of "Collective Mental Illness"
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dddp6bt4_191cz999ngm

[INIREF*I&R ~ GB]

Special Care wrote:

> Politicians are chosen from the start by the ruling group for their
> stupidity and their malleability.
>

Many share that view.

In repeated surveys since the mid 1990s over seven of ten British adults
agree that the citizen instigated referendum should be introduced.
People want effective democracy and to recover some control over (our
own) public affairs.

Fortunately we are not (yet) forced to vote for 'em. See our voters'
guide at <http://www.iniref.org/carta.htm>
In The Guide we show that, however you judge our politicians and
governments, you can help to promote the introduction of new democratic
tools such as citizens' law proposal, the veto referendum plus the
MP-recall.