" Belgium’s Expt In A New Kind Of Democracy""Princeton Study: The U.S. Is Not ‘Losing’ Its Democracy, It’s Already Long Gone"

[ranifeds]

    fyi , wider -ranging selection of sources

   "In Belgium’s mind-boggling political system, which has overlaying territorial and language-based federal elements, the German-speaking community has its own government, with devolved powers comparable to Scotland or Wales. With a population of 76,000 (fewer than the Isle of Man), Ostbelgien is Europe’s smallest federal entity, but it has a real parliament whose remit includes education, culture, energy and social care. And from next year, everyday folk chosen by chance will have the opportunity to shape policy alongside the elected MPs—in the first permanent citizens’ assembly in the world."

  https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/belgiums-experiment-in-a-new-kind-of-democracy

  " A study by two political scientists at Princeton and Northwestern, Martin Gilens and Benjamin Page, analyzed 1,779 recent policy outcomes found that “economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on U.S. government policy,” while average citizens “have little or no independent influence.” "

  https://www.blacklistednews.com/article/75510/princeton-study-the-us-is-not-losing-its-democracy-its-already-long.html