reply to pct: ref their opinion about introducing a Citizens Initiated Referendum system to replace what we have here in Australia.
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I further add:
http://www.theindependentaustralian.com.au/node/34
..."The arguments for and against
The main arguments supporting CIR deal with making Parliament responsive to the wishes of the people, but there are some interesting extras. Thus Parliamentarians can say to pressure groups who might target them as individuals - ‘put your efforts into a CIR petition’. CIR would also make citizens more politically aware and help counteract cynicism and apathy. Some quotes:
‘Under CIR, the people feel that they remain basically in charge of their own laws no matter what party is in power. This eliminates the feelings of fear, powerlessness and vulnerability that can lead some people to support extremist political movements’.
‘The arguments raised against CIR are largely theoretical and deliberately ignore actual experience with CIR overseas. Despite scaremongering by CIR’s opponents, in no State or country in which CIR exists, has it been used to make laws oppressing minorities, persecuting trade unions, abolishing necessary taxes or introducing barbaric punishments. Switzerland and California, which use CIR more than any other State or country, are among the most prosperous and popular places to live.’
They might have added that the examples represent the extremes of cautious and adventurous societies.
The against arguments mostly boil down to not trusting the people. They are held to not be as wise as our politicians. This at a time when politicians are held in such low esteem!
Opponents of CIR often raise the possibility of the reintroduction of the death penalty as a possibility, since polls sometimes show a majority in favour. However the history of referenda in Australia shows that initial approval in the polls does not guarantee success. In the 1950s, despite early polls indicating a win for the repressive Communist Dissolution Bills, the tide was turned during public debate.
This is a common pattern, only deserving propositions have ben approved.
Republicans may feel unhappy about the result of the last referendum, but until republicans are united behind a single alternative to our existing system, Australia will not become a republic."
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), thanks for the extra information about CIR's.
