I read the "UKCOD" message with interest, particularly since I lived in
Scotland till I was 21.
I have scanned the site, and will put a link up on our "Canadians for Direct
Democracy " website and post this to the CDD Listserv.
However I must say that I have GRAVE DOUBTS about :
"Our (UKCOD) Objectives are:
To develop opportunities for wider public participation in the democratic
process using online electronic communication"
We at CDD believe that anything short of our aim of:
"to improve the democratic process in Canada through citizen-initiated
binding referendums whereby voters can directly amend, introduce and remove
policies and laws"
is "seriously sub-optimal" -- to say it politely -- (BS is the less polite˙
term)
Until governments world-wide are accountable to the PEOPLE -- (we suggest a
Swiss-like system of binding referendums) -- we have a Governance system
dominated by elites who do what elites (Cabinet, top bureaucrats, TNC
lobbyists, … ) want to do, and spend just a little of their energy fobbing
off "Democracy Groups" with useless consultative and information services --
which they almost totally ignore.
As Chomsky has said (about sports) -- it keeps the masses from thinking
about important issues.
Colin Stark
Vice-President
Canadians for Direct Democracy
Vancouver, B.C.
http://www.npsnet.com/cdd/
[EMAIL PROTECTED] (listserv)
*********************
At 06:16 PM 12/12/97 -0400, Michael Gurstein wrote:
>
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 17:15:49 GMT
>From: "G.S. Aikens" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Subject: Freedom of Information Consultation
>
>This should be a very interesting experiment.
>
>G.S. Aikens
>
>Have Your Say to the Government! See - http://foi.democracy.org.uk
>=========================˙
======
>
>UK Citizens' Online Democracy (UKCOD) is delighted to announce that for
>the first time in Britain the general public can participate in the
>preparation of a law by interacting directly with a Government Minister
>via the internet.
>
>An independent, non-partisan web site supported by the Cabinet Office
>has been set up by UK Citizens' Online Democracy (UKCOD) to enable the
>public to provide the Government with feedback on its proposals for
>Britain's first Freedom of Information Act and to pose questions directly
>to Dr David Clark, the Minister responsible for the Freedom of Information
>proposals.
>
>You can have your say to the Government and the Minister NOW at:-
>
>http://foi.democracy.org.uk/
>
>Dr Clark said, "Before we produce the draft Freedom of Information
>Bill, I am keen to hear people's views on our proposals. The UKCOD
>website will be a quick and convenient route for people to provide
>this feedback. I look forward to taking part in the online discussion
>planned for the New Year."
>
>So don't be shy, help make history! Have Your Say to the Government at:-
>
>http://foi.democracy.org.uk/
>
>And a big thank you to our sponsors - AOL, the Joseph Rowntree Charitable
>Trust, Sun Microsystems and GX Networks.
>
>Irving Rappaport
>UK Citizens' Online Democracy
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
