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From: liberte@uiucdcs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Participative Democracy - (nf)
Message-ID: <29200135@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 27-Apr-84 04:48:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.29200135
Posted: Fri Apr 27 04:48:00 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 29-Apr-84 07:12:42 EDT
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Nf-ID: #R:pyuxa:-71200:uiucdcs:29200135:000:2178
Nf-From: uiucdcs!liberte    Apr 27 03:48:00 1984

#R:pyuxa:-71200:uiucdcs:29200135:000:2178
uiucdcs!liberte    Apr 27 03:48:00 1984

> /**** uiucdcs:net.politics / pyuxa!wetcw /  6:26 pm  Apr 25, 1984 ****/
> I am forever amazed at the submissions of some of our netters.
> Today, we are treated to a plea to change our style of government
> to what Mr. LaLiberte and Mr. DiNardo call "participative democracy".
> I really wonder where these gentlemen have been all of their lives?
> This is exactly what we now have.  What more do they want?

To clarify my position, there is an important difference between
what is called participative democracy and representative democracy.
We have a representative democracy in which we elect representatives
to make decisions for us.  The only decisions we make are who to
support for election.  In participative democracy, the people are
much more directly involved in policy decision making because people
vote on the issues, not the candidates.  Various combinations of
the two are possible.  Occasionally, the people are given the
opportunity to vote on an issue, but it is usually non-binding.

> Standing around on the outside of the government and not doing
> anything to bring about change is the problem, not that the
> government is an oligarchy.  Who's fault is it that Congress
> and every other branch of government is filled to the brim with
> THEM?  It is the fault of 80% of the people who, because they
> are too busy moaning and groaning, do not participate.

The form of government makes a great deal of difference in how
easy it is to effect change.  Change is possible with most any
governmental structure.  The question is, which structures will
facillitate beneficial change?  Seems to me that what has happened
in this country is that people have become disillusioned with a
system in which their primary input to the government is to vote
for or against someone they saw in a TV commercial.  The process
has become self defeating.

The reason participatory democracy is an attractive idea is that
becoming involved with making policy decisions is very addicting.
The more you learn, the more you want to learn more.  Positive.

Daniel LaLiberte,  U of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Computer Science
{moderation in all things - including moderation}