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Edited on Mon Jun-04-07 11:41 AM by welshTerrier2
i also thank you for some of the clarification. i haven't read the details of Gravel's proposal for some time and was posting (out of laziness) from memory.
having said that, let me try to tell you my concern about ballot initiatives and referendums. please understand that it kills me to say this. if we can't have real democracy, what the hell is the good of anything we're doing. you're statement that my view of democracy is really sad is dead on the money. it's more than sad, actually, it's tragic.
here's the problem though ... let's throw the buzz phrase out there right up front: tyranny of the majority. my town uses a "town meeting" form of government. let's compare my town to another town with a very different demographic. In my town, there is a very large majority of families with school-aged children. In the next town (hypothetically), the town has a massive retirement community and a minority of families with school-aged children. both towns bring a warrant to their respective town meetings to pass a massive increase in the property tax to pay for certain budget items requested by the school system.
arguments fly back and forth about the cost to taxpayers and whether the items are "needs" or just "nice to haves". so, let's look at "power to the people" put into a real situation. the increase in property taxes would have been about 10% if these issues passed. just to give some perspective of the tax burden where I live, my property taxes, on top of a state income tax and a state sales tax, are now in excess of $7500 per year. so, another 10% is a big deal.
in town 1, the issue passes. the majority couldn't care less about seniors on fixed incomes. they didn't care about people who are out of work. they didn't care about ALL the voters; they only cared about themselves and their own families.
in town 2, filled with retirees, the issue fails. the majority couldn't care less about the needs of school children. they couldn't care less about parents trying to do right by their kids. they couldn't care less about ALL the voters; they only cared about themselves.
one town burdens the minority by passing the measure; the other town burdens the minority by voting down the measure.
the cause is pure selfishness and a system that allows the majority to impose its will on the minority.
now, consider a representative system (arguably in the ideal), where people we elect represent ALL the people. in this case, the representatives we elected don't just blindly follow the will of the majority but can adjust what is done to create some fairness and some balance. for example, unlike the referendum approach, they could recognize the severe impact in town 1 on those who couldn't afford the increase. they might, perhaps, decrease the amount. or, they might, perhaps, provide some percentage of exemption for those unable to absorb the increase. or perhaps they could uncover some other remedy to create some fairness and balance. on a referendum, the majority can say to hell with the minority. they have the votes; they have the power; they only care about themselves.
is that the system Gravel endorses? i really am a cheerleader for real democracy and good governance. those are not just terms we teach to children to pass a test in grade school. i am deeply committed to reforming our failed institutions. and i would love nothing more than to have confidence in the electorate and further empower them with a greater voice. in the ideal, that would be my first choice by far. but we are a selfish lot. somehow, voting has become all about ME ME ME. people actually think that's a good thing. i've been told that i should vote for what's best for me and you should vote for what's best for you and then whoever has the most votes wins. if we're not voting based on the best interests of everyone, what the hell good is voting in the first place?
i hope i've been clear in presenting my view of the democratic process. i really hope i have not misconstrued Gravel's position, and I'd be very interested to hear your response to all this ... i know it's cynical; i know it's pessimistic; i know it's sad; the problem is, i don't see how to view it any other way. i think we have to start by teaching people about fundamental civics. voters need to bring a different set of values to the voting booth. i'm talking about a very, very longterm educational process. giving greater power and responsibility BEFORE real change has been successfully implemented, for the reasons i cited above, seems ill-advised.
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