What's Next For BC?

Now that certain politicians may have learned how serious the populace is about being listened to by their Government, what can we anticipate in B.C.’s future politics?

By the look and sound of the contenders vying to replace our last temporary King, we’re simply in for more of the same. These bunch are all like little brothers and sisters of the guy leaving. Will we have just another temporary King or Queen, seeing his or her mandate as one of invincible and infallible power beyond the opinion of mere mortals? I fear we may.

But what would we want instead? These contenders all promote listening to the populace, but nowhere do I see a push for real change in the process of Governing. None of our parties have proposed any mechanism for actually gathering the opinion of the people. And this shouldn’t really be that difficult. There’s an old expression, ‘If you build it, they will come!’ I believe that might relate to a secure and ongoing polling website of some sort, where the populace could actually be asked their opinions.

Government should perhaps be in the business of developing alternative policy choices for public consideration. Governing policy initiatives should never be enacted without input from the populace. So the people should vote before the enactment. Permanent polling stations should be created and secure systems developed to allow direct input to Government before the fact, not after.

The HST issue demonstrates completely the current intransigence of Government. Finally, after years of wrangling the HST issue, someone suggests we might solve the entire issue by reducing the combined rate of the new tax. That would permit the Province to retain the $1.6 enticement money, neutralize the complaints of the taxpayers who are now paying more tax in a whole bunch of places, and forestall any need to erase the transition to the combined Federal and Provincial taxes.

But where was this dialogue and discussion prior to the implementation? No alternatives were ever offered or discussed. The supreme ruler knew what was best for us, our own opinions be damned, and made the change, exactly as he planned, sticking to the course no matter what. Well goodbye to him, our collective democratic ambitions demand more than that of our Premier.

And now the contenders are all thinking this, or thinking that, about the HST question, and are fumbling about trying to decide what policy they will force upon us if elected. None of them has proposed asking the populace what to do next. The rigid referendum process says either we kill the tax or we don’t. But if we kill the tax now, will be simply pay again later to re-introduce it. If it is such a critical requirement for our future competitiveness, etc., then we are doomed to see a return of the blend at some time in the future.

Government could actually use this opportunity to actually ask us what we prefer to do next. Personally, I’m for allowing the combined tax to stay, but reducing the rate to 10%. But whenever the referendum is finally conducted, under the present set up, we must rigidly decide either yes or no.

No one in Government, or in opposition even, has suggested the rescission of the Tax without a referendum. What if Government backtracked and permitted a free vote in the Legislature on the tax? Government could kill the tax, kill the referendum and save all that money. If we are going to decide rigidly either yes or no, then the tax will go anyway, as we the people have a point to make.

But Government should be permitted to offer us alternatives, and should permit us the opportunity to indicate our preference. That would be a democratic process.

So how about a move to adjust the referendum question to include more than one possibility? Maybe we could include an option to keep the tax but reduce the rate. And perhaps another option to keep things as they already are now, for any so inclined. Majority vote wins, just like in a Democracy. The petition proponents should ultimately be convinced of the positive improvement in Democratic process this would afford us all.

If we must blindly stumble towards the referendum, with only the rigid question ahead, the tax will ultimately go. So Government should, if it cannot create a process to ask us what we actually prefer, just save us all the expensive and time-consuming process, and kill the tax without a referendum.

New Party or New Process??

Recent news of a new Political Party in BC has me wondering what we would be fixing, exactly. I’m not so sure a new party, with another voluntary arbitrator, is exactly what we’re waiting for. I suspect we’re really waiting for change to occur in the actual processes of Government. Some form of direct consultation with the people, and meaningful vote gathering on issues of preference, choice, and planning.

But how would we ever effect such radical changes? Actually allow the public a vote on an issue and have that collected vote determine an outcome? Well, we’ve actually already started a few processes that are working in the right direction. Looming issues include a Municipal count-up related to a big expensive double blue bridge. A process I’m calling ‘Democracy in Reverse’ has inspired the public to demand a say on the issue, after civic direction was originally proclaimed. Clear alternatives have now been established and presented, and the public will get a say in which way we will go (I’m personally in favour of a new bridge, and have been for many years).

The same Reverse Democracy process is evidenced in the issue of the Provincial HST Petition, which will provide captivating theatrical content in the months ahead. An un-responsive Provincial Government doesn’t seem to get that it can’t operate outside the will of the masses, and survive. Successful lies are not laudable achievements by Government. And non-representative Governance is certainly not within the definition of Democracy.

And so, we witness an un-concerned Provincial Government being dragged by the scruff of its neck to its ultimate demise in the pending recall process. Sadly, this Government seems to have no idea this is about to happen. And it is the will of the masses that is actually causing this to happen.

The masses, realizing we do now have the technology to re-create actual Democracy, won’t really be content with any number of new flavours of the same old syrup. Political Parties will have to start standing up on this issue, and declaring themselves. Will it be ‘power to the people’ in the future, or remain ‘power to the pinnacle group’? Collectively, I believe we are all really waiting for a return to real democracy. Democracy that includes voting on issues, and having policy established by virtue of those votes.

I’m surprised no existent party has even thought to posture in the obvious direction. Why not a modern techno platform to initiate votes on the choices of our world? Government should busy itself establishing and presenting alternative scenarios, with budgets attached, and the public should then directly vote to decide the choices. That would be democracy. And that would be a new party.

Email to Carole James...today...August 12th, 2010

Hi Carole...you don't know me...but I'm writing today to express my disappointment in your party...for not addressing the real issue facing us all at this time...that being the absence of democratic process in our Governance...

You do not condemn the Liberals for not acquiescing to the wishes of the people on the HST imposition...which suggests to us all...that you would change nothing if elected...

In particular...it appears you would not yet change the process by which policy is established and implemented...

My belief is that the people are now demanding a say in the choices that are made...and we are currently seeing direct evidence of 'Democracy in Reverse'...wherein the public are demanding a say in policy direction...if albeit after the fact of imposition by Government...

Why can no-one see what the public wants?...Which is a simple say in the determinations of our Government...

A party wishing to align with the public for the future...should be establishing ways to poll the people prior to establishing policy...

No more temporary dictatorship will suffice for the people of BC...recall in November will be proof enough of that...

We, who are watching this Government...cannot believe the arrogance they display in advancing to their own demise...

People want, and are waiting for...someone to lead them to the new world of inclusion in the process of policy determinations...which is what democracy is defined to be all about...We most of us have intelligent opinions...and we want them solicited by any Government...

Those who do not perceive this movement within the public...will be banished from all power eventually...

I believe we're all waiting for someone to change the ways of Government...and remove us from an arrogant self-involved Government that cares not what the public thinks...and acts arbitrarily without public sanction...

Whose side are you on, in this, Carole?...Why don't you say something?...Gordo doesn't say anything because he thinks we're all beneath consideration...and that he is the King and we will graciously permit him to do anything he wants...

If you are watching...you might see his demise...He will have his pension...but he will never have our respect...

Three times he's been elected...and then conducted himself as if a conquering barbarian...oblivious to the masses...

Good riddance to him...

But what of you, and the NDP...Will you work for the people?...How will we know that?...What process will you initiate to include the public will in your chosen policies...I suggest a mechanism be created to poll the people, voluntarily, on policy alternatives...and priorities...

We, the people, have the technology, and are going to demand this inclusion...What will you do?...

We wait...

Dave...

(HST petition riding captain in Victoria Swan Lake...and soon to be recall volunteer)...Ida Chong will be dismissed from the house...and I believe Murray Coell, as well...in our local areas...for their stance in defence of their dictator...May they enjoy their pensions...

Fight The HST

Fight the HST

Recent press would suggest the HST is a done deal. Let me suggest that is absolutely not the case. The ‘Initiative Petition’ to stop the tax will begin next week. This is the only petition registered with Elections BC to legally challenge the imposition of this new tax. The petition threshold is a mere 10% of registered voters in each riding, and the petition drive will begin April 6th. A successful petition will force the Government to a referendum on the implementation.

I am a riding captain in this effort, and find that all of the volunteers share a common thread. This new tax has been invented for imposition by this Government, and like all current legislation, without any input from or consultation with the public, and in direct opposition to the wishes of the people. This is not the functioning of a real democracy.

A democracy would poll the preferences of the public, and options such as implementation at a discounted total rate, postponement of implementation until the economy recovers from economic downturn, or a flat no change required, could have been offered to the public for input.

None of us believe this is an imperative change at this time, and all of us believe it will take money out of our pockets and reduce the number of transactions we can enter into in the commerce of our lives. We all perceive this to be a not correct posture for recovery from economic downturn.

We appreciate this Government’s desire to add money to the treasury by grabbing the Federal incentive cash. We don’t feel this incentive carrot will disappear anytime soon, and also feel that a revenue neutral lower combined rate would have sold quite well to the public. Alas, no options are offered by this Government, which views itself as a ‘Majority of One’, and tries to impose its will on the people. That would be the opposite of democracy.

Please sign the petition, and volunteer if you can, on the ‘fighthst.com’ website to canvas your local neighbourhood for the benefit of us all. Please note that petition signers and canvas volunteers must be registered to vote by April 6th. Such registration can be effected directly from links on the ‘fighthst.com’ website.

One thing is certain, if we don’t stand up and demand real democracy, we’ll never get it from this Government.

Democracy in Reverse?? - March 1st, 2010

Democracy in Reverse??

Recent events suggest a surging demand for democratic input into decision-making in our society. The kind of input that, in a true democracy, should always be sought prior to the implementation of policy. How else could Government serve the will of the people?

Our local blue bridge replacement process is now at full stop thanks to the democratic input demands of a group of our citizens. Whether one favours replacement or refurbishment, no one can deny the message sent to our Municipal Government that the people want a say in this decision.

We’re all screaming, after the fact, about the release of oceanfront forest lands to the exclusive benefit of an individual logging company. No consultation with the populace occurred, and no concessions of any kind have accrued to the people. Now we’ll need our Government to step forward, with public money in hand, to buy back this land for the people, again solely to the benefit of that individual logging company. We all should have had a say in the release or not of those forest lands.

People are beginning to question why the populace, who will pay the bills, don’t have a say in the Federal Government imposition of a land-based sewage treatment system, in the face of science that suggests such a system will really just cost us all a lot of money, without really making any appreciable difference to the safety of our environment. Shouldn’t the people have some input into this decision?

Also federally, our most humble Prime Minister has been busy appointing a gaggle of Conservative operatives to the Senate in order to prevent any non-partisan operation of that body. Much talk of moving to an elected Senate, but no progress in that regard from this Government. We’ll need to demand an elected senate, or we’ll never get one.

Most recently, we have another local bridge conundrum, with the Esquimalt Lagoon bridge now under cease operation considerations. A councilor for Colwood has recently opined that the public needs a say in the future of this bridge. A bold and progressive thing for him, from within our current democratic model, to actually favour input from citizens.

But the crowning proof of a new demand for real democracy is yet to come. A previous Premier of B.C., our own Bill Vander Zalm, has launched, under the ‘Recall and Initiative Act’, an initiative petition to end the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST – also known as the Hated Sales Tax). You’ll have the opportunity to sign this petition in April, and I hope you do so, as a participatory demonstration of Democracy in reverse.

I believe this recall petition will succeed, and the imposition of this new tax will be halted, giving our Provincial Government cause to self-reflect on its strategy of imposing policy contrary to the public will. I don’t know anyone who won’t sign this stop-the-tax-grab petition, other than the small herd of Liberal cronies perhaps, and it appears democracy will have its day, if again a bit backwards in the process.

Pretty soon now, I believe, Governments will have no choice but to consult the masses before implementing policy initiatives. We, the people, want a say in the Governance of our lives, and we no longer trust a gaggle of Temporary Kings to make decisions by proxy. We don’t care if they achieve re-election or not. We care only that policies be implemented, with clear public endorsement, for the public good.

Under a consult-the-populace form of democracy, we might even eventually maintain operational policies that wouldn’t be torn asunder and re-designed with each change of Government. Some continuity would save us the ferry loads of money currently expensed to finance polarity shifting from left leaning to right leaning Governance, and back and forth as we have historically seen. If the public were choosing policy, it might remain more constant and less knee-jerk reactive to the needs of a Governing political party.

Some say Government by referendum isn’t practical, that the populace is not able to make effective decisions collectively. I have to ask, how would anyone know? Direct democracy hasn’t really been in active practice since the times of the ancient Greeks. Our present model, born of necessity to simplify Governance while direct input was impractical, must now be superseded by real Democratic process. Our society once again has the ability to permit individual input and collective decision, and, as a democracy, we have an obligation to poll the people directly.

Our populace is as knowledgeable and capable as any collection of elected officials. It might take us some time, initially, to get our canoes pointed in the same direction, but any argument denying the ability of the masses to choose correctly, is misguided and demeans the collective intelligence of us all.

For now, we the people will keep demanding democracy, in reverse if we have to, until a natural evolution returns us to the practice of polling the people directly as the means of determining Governing policy. That will, then, be democracy.

The Devolution of Democracy - 2009 August

The Devolution of Democracy

B.C. politics seems to demonstrate dramatically the diminishing of the word ‘Democracy’ in our modern world. How could you perceive a system of Government easily defined as ‘Government to the People, by the Ruling party, for the Ruling party’, to be Democracy? The ancient Greek inventors of the word must roll restlessly on their clouds and rattle their ethereal fists vigourously at the slight.

In B.C., our Government pretends to act for the benefit of the citizens, while simultaneously imposing the anti-stimuli of a tax increase, which it calls a necessary economic stimulus, and tries to snowball us all as if we were devoid of common sense or intelligence of any kind. I keep hearing how business will benefit because there will be no PST payable on its inputs. Well, I don’t quite know where this argument comes from, as businesses have never paid PST on inputs. PST has only ever applied to the domestic consumer.

A few months back this Government was selling how much stimulus it would inject into our economy in this worst-ever-since financial reality, in order to maintain our strong and happy Provincial demeanour. Immediately upon election, this Government has installed vision blinkers to keep its view riveted to a four-year horizon, implementing strategies to create the right posture for itself prior to the next election.

1.6 billion dollars from the Federal Government must be pretty tempting at any time, much less in a period of deficit. That won’t hurt the balance sheet. And if we just bump the taxes this little tiny bit, we’ll be looking good in four years. Would the Feds not offer their conversion money again in a few years time? Perhaps when the economy is working and expanding again?

Couldn’t our Government find a truly revenue neutral position by reducing the rate of the HST (Hated Sales Tax), so as not to take extra money out of the economic engines and the pockets of our citizens during these stretched economic times? They would rather pretend this is revenue neutral, and a necessary helpmate to the citizenry.

This entire agenda makes me wonder, what would happen in a real Democracy? Perhaps a truly Democratic Government would analyze the books, develop possible scenarios for the long-range plan, and then it would, heaven forbid, ask the citizens, by referendum vote, which option the Government should choose and implement. They wouldn’t make everyone happy, but they could at least attempt to make the majority happy, which is supposed to be their job.

Just how impossible is this scenario, in our current reality, of transforming Governance back to real and direct Democracy? Just so totally! Our elected Governments are hopelessly insulated by their power. They live in a soft cocoon of increasing pay and perks, impose a wage freeze on the working man, and, if we remember back to another time, also just after being elected, even illegally shred worker contracts and never ever restore the stolen pay those real working people lost.

How could Government maintain, in a real Democracy, the million and half-million dollar salaries of people who probably work fewer hours than the real working stiffs of our world (I’m excluding the lavish free lunch and free dinner sessions from the calculation). In a true Democracy, one would ideally be working towards an equal pay for everyone reality. In our current system, the reality fosters more of a ‘take what you can get, while you can get it, and then get out’ mentality. Never fair to the workers who can’t reward themselves directly.

I’ll bet the taxpayers, if consulted, would request this HST change be delayed until the tough times are done, or, if the need is so dramatically urgent, that the rate be reduced to a create a neutral take from the pocketbooks of the people.

Getting on to real Democracy will be a difficult road, but it must happen. The status quo keeps returning us to this ‘Government by Imposition’ situation; more accurately defined, perhaps, as ‘Government by Elected Dictatorship’. I’m beginning to hear rumblings of a hunger for individual say in Governance, perhaps reminiscent of the forces and realities that created ‘Democracy’ in the first place. People are beginning to realize they can have more active involvement in Governance than is afforded by one scrawny little ‘x’ applied to a scrap of paper every four years.

We have the technology, once again, to facilitate a direct and ongoing polling of the people. It should be done daily, weekly, monthly, constantly, in order to Govern by the people, which was the original intention. Governments should be the protectors and implementers of the will of the people, period. So ask us what we want, or listen when we've already told you.

My Scrawny Little X - 2009 May

My Scrawny Little X

Having now exercised the full might of my individual democratic power…I am left to ponder for four more years the full extent of individual involvement in the supposed democratic decision-making process.

All that is left to me now is to wait a full four years before I can scrawl my next scrawny little X. I feel powerful, don’t you?

Merriam-Webster defines democracy as: ‘government by the people; especially: rule of the majority.

Couldn’t we have a ten question referendum?…Or ten questions a week?…Or ten questions a day?…How else could a government know the will of the people?…

Couldn’t we allow democracy to actually occur in our modern world?…Collect the votes and enable, directly, policies that the people endorse?…Heaven forbid we should stop leaving all decision-making to a handful of hands-tied representatives who decide everything according to the whims of the temporary king.