Updated 25 December 2002

Direct Democracy Forum

Welcome!

This Web site is devoted to
Government of the people, by the people and for the people!

The Direct Democracy Forum claims for you, your right to equal input into the activities and policies of local, national and international government.

DDF, the Direct Democracy Forum, is a forum for the development of a direct democracy political model and when large enough, for direct democratic participation in law-making by all citizens.

Information and communications technology enables us to solve the obstacles to the workings of a true democracy. It is cheaper to have all citizens directly taking part in democratic debate and law making than it costs for elected representatives' salaries, allowances, lifetime fringe benefits and superannuation in the three levels of government we have in Australia and the United States of America.

The nineteen eighties brought an information revolution through personal computers. The nineties' combines the information revolution with a communications revolution known as the Internet, and Intranets. The many hundred-fold increases in computing power in recent years mean that what was not feasible some years ago is now feasible. We have the technology! We can rebuild the dream of democracy being for, by, and of, the people!

You can potentially, either on your own computer, on a friend's computer, or on a public access computer in a library, or government facility, read and consider any Bill (proposed law), any arguments for and against the Bill (in full and at your leisure), contribute your arguments for others to consider and to vote for or against the Bill when you have made up your mind.

Bills (proposed laws) would be allowed a certain amount of time by the constitution (a set of laws on how government is to operate) that would limit how long a Bill can be before the people. If the Bill gains both a majority of votes and meets or exceeds a minimum participation rate (also to be set in the constitution) then the Bill becomes law. If the time for the Bill expires and it has not gained the necessary support, that is, either not enough people have been interested enough to vote on it, or it has only a minority of votes, then the Bill is thrown out.

No more hidden agendas and unpublicised debates with laws effectually decided by a few people behind locked doors. You have an electoral roll number your computer password linked to the system will ensure that your vote is only registered when you are ready, and have read the for and against arguments relating to the Bill.

Who would participate in DDF?

Australian, American and other nations' citizens wanting to have a direct part in the law-making of their national, state or provincial and local government or wanting to express their views, ideas and suggestions without subjection to the editor's knife so that other citizens and politicians may be influenced by their ideas or accept their suggestions. People who want to help create a better "system."

Your facilitator is Ian Green.

The Direct Democracy Forum is totally international and currently takes the form of an email list. Please join now!