A Direct Democracy Project for the 2016 Election

[Wollman, Neil]

I am interested in getting any feedback/suggestions and support on the below proposal. I will be reaching out to some elected officials in Congress or others who might want to co-author an op-ed based on the below ideas, Even if it works only as a think piece pushing for more voice for citizens, it might be helpful, but maybe more.  So any ideas of prominent/credible folks who might write/sign onto the piece or other ideas are welcome. And those who might want to become active in one way or another, let me know. Neil

 

"The Power of Scout"

Neil Wollman; Ph. D.; Senior Fellow, Bentley Alliance for Ethics and Social Responsibility; Bentley University; Waltham, MA, 02452; NWol...@Bentley.edu; 260-568-0116;

                                         A Direct Democracy Project for the 2016 Election

 

• An op-ed, following from the below ideas), by a  current Republican and Democratic legislator who should co-author along with actual writer(s) of the piece
• Given public frustration with government processes, high disapproval of Congress, and so on
• We want to propose a new way for government to be directed on policy issues, based on an old concept
• Brief background/history of "Direct Democracy"
• For the 2016 Presidential/Congressional elections, employ either exit polls (beefed up) or direct voting by all on various ballot measures on public policy issues which would guide future lawmaking for the upcoming years. In a sense, a national referendum, though items may not be as specific as many referendums are
• Advantages include: overcoming a situation where the public feels that their voices are not heard by legislators; an avoiding of gridlock, which seems only avoided now by emergency situations; legislators would have an "excuse" for following dictates that do not always follow their own/party lines; empower citizens (depending on carry-through);perhaps maybe even an acceptance by legislators at some level that opposes their beliefs because they know it was determined by popular "opinion;" a situation in which those who are not in swing states feel they are having a say on important issues (beyond electing their individual reps);presumably an increase in voter turn-out; candidate campaigns/donors/lobbyists//others relatively more geared to issues than personal attacks as need focus on influencing on specific issues; presumably a more clear message on what citizens want, as sometimes both sides declare that the vote supported their policies (Obama citing the presidential vote and Boehner saying that the House remained in control of the House).
• For this to happen, requirements include: agreements from all relevant parties (Congress, President, ?); an excellent well tested, practical methodology at all levels of analysis/implementation (and where avoid items where might promote the "tyranny of the majority” where discriminatory results might occur); a need to invest the energy/resources to carry this out (methodological needs, getting the public and legislators and political parties on board to support, and so on). So preferable is a bi-partisan inclusive commission to work on this with constituencies like lawmakers, think tanks, citizens, RNC/DNC, methodologists, and academics.
• Many things will need to be determined in order to carry this out (just some examples here): how specific or broad the items are (e.g., this past election there were items as specific as who should pay higher or lower taxes to one item asking whether the government does too much); what are the practical means for carrying this all out, step by step; would lawmakers be required to carry out the decisions made or just strongly recommended/considered; What/who/how/when are the decisions on questions devised (e.g., for “what,” would there just be a bare few questions that get at key issues of public discourse or points of disagreement between Dems/Reps—or many items; for how long does the mandate last (is it until next elections or  when other issues arise or there are obvious changes in popular opinion measured in some sound way)? Should the level of support for an item affect the carrying out of policy (e.g., if an 80% vote as opposed to a 51% vote, does that mean; e.g., a higher level of taxes imposed on a group if there was a vote to raise taxes on a particular group )?
• This is not a perfect system and as seen above, many areas of imperfection/needed testing/implementing, at least with the initial attempt. But given current dissatisfaction many feel, why not go bold one time and try it out. We can always decide to end this trial after one time if seems best, for whatever reason.

 

 

"The Power of Scout"
Neil Wollman; Ph. D.; Senior Fellow, Bentley Alliance for Ethics and Social Responsibility; Bentley University; Waltham, MA, 02452; NWol...@Bentley.edu; 260-568-0116

 

[Evan Ravitz]

Neil, you should contact my Congressman Jared Polis, who when he was first elected in 2008 promised me and a radio audience he would introduce a bill for NATIONAL ballot initiatives in his first term: http://spryeye.blogspot.com/2008/12/my-congressman-jared-polis-on-record.html   He's gotten distracted by being a Rep.  He needs to hear from people beside myself: ja...@jaredpolis.com

You could also contact the famous endorsers for the NI4D which I mostly found: http://Vote.org/endorsers.  I have some of their email adrs. Some are easy to find, especially via their universities.

Evan

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Evan Ravitz  Freelance Editing (303)923-5918
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Vote the "mock" out of democracy at Vote.org!

[Wollman, Neil]

Thanks for the ideas. I am VERY new to this DD issue, but after CONCEIVING  of my idea, I did a little research and came across Mike Gravel and spoke to his daughter, who also suggested Polis. The long and short of it was that though his staffer seemed genuine, his basic message was that the congressman used to have an interest in this , might still, but can give me no idea now as to whether the Rep  might get behind this now—check back in a few months. So reaching out to others and return if no interest from others.

 

"The Power of Scout"

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[Joshua N Pritikin]

On Sat, Dec 01, 2012 at 10:18:42PM -0500, Wollman, Neil wrote:
> Thanks for the ideas. I am VERY new to this DD issue, but after
> CONCEIVING of my idea, I did a little research and came across Mike
> Gravel and spoke to his daughter, who also suggested Polis. The long
> and short of it was that though his staffer seemed genuine, his basic
> message was that the congressman used to have an interest in this ,
> might still, but can give me no idea now as to whether the Rep might

> get behind this now-check back in a few months. So reaching out to

> others and return if no interest from others.

In terms of actual progress, I think Healthy Democracy Oregon [*] is
doing an amazing job. Neil, I know it isn't as big a step as you
propose, but it seems plausible to me that the Citizens' Initiative
Review process could be copied to other states.

[*] http://healthydemocracyoregon.org/

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Joshua N. Pritikin
Department of Psychology
University of Virginia
Gilmer Hall 102; Charlottesville, VA 22903
http://people.virginia.edu/~jnp3bc