Taffd

International law recognises the right of a 'people' to self-determination - to decide HOW they are governed. This right flows to 'peoples', not nations or governments.

The UK has no constitution, ratified by the people and there is no mechanism for changing the way we are governed, if we chose so to do.

I'm not suggesting that anything is wrong with our system of parliamentary democracy but as signatories to international law, do we not have a moral duty to enshrine our system in a constitution and have it ratified by the people?

Recently I successfully appealed against a Fixed Penalty Notice, arguing that, as I had a valid blue badge, I had an underlying entitlement to park in an otherwise restricted zone, even though I'd failed to properly display said badge.

Does the law recognise this, or was it a one-off.

You're going through a routine, eg. Making a cup of coffee.

You find you have put a spoonful of coffee into the sugar bowl instead of the cup.

I undestand there is a psychological/physiological reason for this.

Does anyone know what it is called.

Thanks in adsvance.

This from a Brit, who believes we have little democracy here.

I note that several US states have forms of Initiative, Referendum and Recall, which seems far-sighted and very democratic to me. But I am, of course, ignorant of the realities.

I'd be interested in the views of any Americans who have experience of this.

Why and when were these measures introduced?

Are the people of those states happier, politically, than before?

Are these measures used a lot. Are people more involved in their own governance?

Your views would be appreciated.

Please suppose that there is an election system, where each voter who elects a representative is known.

Now this obviously goes against the principle of the 'secret ballot'.

An example of such a system is at http://myverdict.net/articles/intarticle.php?artic...

Can you give me an argument against this system, based on the 'secret ballot' principle.

I'm trying to write a book, in collaboration with a friend. It deals with the disintegration of a local government and the implementation of a new electoral system.

Part of the book will focus on a court case, where the new system will be challenged.

For no particular reason, we have chosen Colorado as a model for the status quo.

Is anybody interested in helping with the detail of the court case - reasons for opposition, etc - constitutional considerations?

I can be contacted via PM.

Even quiet communities seethe.

Dickens might have said ‘It was the best of towns, it was the worst of times.’

The best place to live, with the worst government in its history.

When those who seek political power are allowed to write the rules by

which that power is attained, it is unwise to imagine altruism will be

their motivating force.

Nestled in the foothills of a spectacular, snow-capped mountain range, it missed most of the foul weather associated with the rest of the region.

In its two hundred year history, it had missed many things – the railroad, the gold rush – it had narrowly missed being the state’s capitol. The most recent miss was the freeway. Nobody had thought to build an off-ramp for the small community and businesses suffered for it.

On the plus side Missedville remained a quiet, pleasant little town, uncluttered with the traffic usually associated with towns this close to the freeway. And until that Friday, an outsider would have said the people were a contented lot. The influx of software companies eight years earlier had bought a reasonable standard of living and created a pool of highly skilled workers. The local soccer team was doing well, with two of their star players recently selected to play for the state. And if the proposed golf course turned out anything like the plans, there would be surge in tourism.

If only they could get the off-ramp.

But even quiet communities seethe. That Friday was the beginning.

An article too long to post here, proposes an alternative method of selecting leaders/representatives -

http://myverdict.net/articles/intarticle.php?artic...

Do you think this contravenes the US Constitution or the constitution of any state.

You've heard that the mayor and two councillors have been arrested for defrauding the citizens of your town. There's a growing sense of outrage.

You're at an impromptu meeting, maybe in the park.

You could be one of the speakers or part of the crowd.

What's being suggested, talked about. What snatches of conversation do you overhear.

Are there mechanisms for changing the constitution of a small town in the USA.

For example, if I wanted to propose an alternative electoral process, is there a way to go about it?

'Tyranny of the Majority' - The main argument against direct democracy.

What would you put in a constitution to protect a minority or an individual from oppression by a majority?

Bear in mind that a constitution perceived as 'good' at the outset, appears in general, to be supported and obeyed, if not revered.

Some of the arguments against direct democracy are -

That it equates to mob rule.

That majorities would oppress minorities.

That the majority needs to be protected from itself.

Yet all democracies are based on majorities, usually by a majority of representatives.

Representatives are elected by majority, yet we don't hear that elections equate to mob rule. We hear from the elected - "We have been given a mandate by the people."

Can we the people, only be trusted to demonstrate a rational, majority opinion, at election time?

Create legislation to oblige elected representatives, at all levels of government, to advocate the majority opinion of their constituents, where their constituents can demonstrate a majority of 75%.

details -

Representatives are elected to make decisions on behalf of their constituents. Occasionally however, issues arise of such import, that the electorate considers it essential that their views be acted upon. In order to enhance the democratic process, where an overwhelming majority can be determined, in the order of 75%, the representative should be obliged to be an advocate of and for that majority opinion and vote accordingly.

Please say if you're 'for' or 'against' and give a corresponding argument.

Many thanks

http://www.myverdict.net/ carried the folowing news report.

Missedville, Friday, Feb 15. Mayor Howja Fleecem and two members of the Missedville Town Council were arrested yesterday and charged with bilking the community out of more than $2 million. Council members Constance (Connie) Softsell and Benjamin (Ben) Dover were booked along with the mayor for allegedly accepting cash and gifts in excess of $63,000 from contractors building the Missedville Grammar School. Surprisingly, Ima Liar was not charged even though the school is being erected in his district. Council spokesperson U Tellem said, "We will not tolerate this abuse of the public trust. We will get to the bottom of this outrage. You can be sure the guilty will be severely punished."

What would be your 'Letter to the editor'

Missedville, Friday, Feb 15. Mayor Howja Fleecem and two members of the Missedville Town Council were arrested yesterday and charged with bilking the community out of more than $2 million. Council members Constance (Connie) Softsell and Benjamin (Ben) Dover were booked along with the mayor for allegedly accepting cash and gifts in excess of $63,000 from contractors building the Missedville Grammar School. Surprisingly, Ima Liar was not charged even though the school is being erected in his district.

This is taken from the fictitious Missedville recorder.

Suppose you were writing a letter to the editor -

What would you write?

Your responses may feature in a book being written at http://www.myverdict.net/

Please supply a suitable pen-name so you can be credited if included.

Alternatively, you might want to post directly at the site.

Regards

Taffd

Hi All,

A friend and I are attempting to write an online book, political in nature, based on a concept we call 'Representative Direct Democracy' and incorporating ideas we've previously discussed.

It'll be written in the style of a local newspaper, reporting the disintegration of local government and it's replacement with a new system.

As we like our work to be challenged, we are inviting comment on each page we post, both supportive and negative. We are also inviting suggestions for edits or extra ideas.

Some comments may become part of the actual book.

Now I know that yahoo politics has members with a wide disparity of opinion, from humour to rant.

If you're interested in this project, you can join in at http://www.myverdict.net/ which has been changed to focus on this project.

Articles on which the book will be based, are also available at the site, to give you plenty of ammunition.

Anyone interested?

Best Regards

Taffd

Hi foks,

I have a table with 10,000 names.

I want to select 3,333 groups of three in addition to the remaining 1.

Any ideas for the SELECT statement.

Regards

Taffd

Hi All,

A friend and I, have begun a project to write a constitution for a community with an electorate of 10,000, that we have named Missedville. It stemmed from a discussion about direct democracy, where we envisaged an off ramp from a highway, being suggested for a community that had been by-passed when the highway was built and how our 'ideal' community would accomplish this real-world task, if it was governed as a direct democracy.

We came at this from opposite sides of the DD debate, our views originally seeming irreconcilable and found, during discussion that we were in fact, closer together in our stances than we had first thought.

Our initial efforts are posted at http://www.myverdict.net/ , the link being -

http://www.myverdict.net/articles/article.php?arti...

We invite you to criticise and suggest any additions you might like to see incorporated.