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16. How does DD Work? The basic functioning of any system of DD, for a group of any size, incorporates the points made in previous chapters and follows the pattern described earlier in Chapter 11. All citizens vote directly on all policies. There are no elections, no Parliament and no Government. Each domain of the society, such as health, education, finance, agriculture, transport etc is allocated a TV channel open 24 hours every day all the year round. Panels drawn from pools of people with expertise in each particular domain debate the pros and cons of various proposals phoned in by citizens. A proposal becomes subject to panel discussion if 1% of all citizens support it. Proposals are listed on TV and citizens can phone in to establish the 1% support required for further discussion. Each proposal is discussed for a fixed length of time, after which all citizens vote on it. Proposals are numbered and citizens can vote on each by mobile phone, touch-screen, magnetic cards, or the Internet. A proposal gaining a majority is submitted to a second round of discussion and voting, and then to a third one. If it wins a simple majority in the third round it becomes policy, unless it is one which requires a larger majority (see 6. below). Every citizen has one vote. Voting on behalf of another person is a criminal offence; so too is offering or receiving favours for a vote. Voting is not a duty, but a right. However, a policy is binding for all, including those who did not participate in the voting on it. Citizens can phone any channel at any time to propose, comment, or question panel members. Panel members respond, and can suggest solutions to problems, but they do not vote on proposals they discuss. All citizens will decide which proposals require a simple majority of those who voted and which require a majority of the entire electorate, or a preferential majority of more than 50% of the entire electorate. Every citizen has the right to propose any policy, to vote on any policy, and to criticize any policy. Once a policy has been approved, a Committee will be drawn by lottery from a pool of people with the relevant experience and knowledge required, to carry it out. Committee members serve one year, after which new members are chosen by lottery. All citizens will decide which decisions can be vetoed by a minority, in which case the minority has to propose an alternative to the policy it vetoed. All citizens will decide which decision is binding on those who voted for it but not on those who voted against it. Direct Democracy will be applied at work, in education, and in the family. However, employees at work and students and staff at a site of education can overrule their right to decide all policies and appoint decision-makers as they see fit, provided they retain their right to return to Direct Democracy at any time. All citizens will work out a Constitution stating the rules of DD for that society or group. Changing a rule will require a majority of 80% of all citizens. Every decision can be submitted to a renewed discussion and vote after one year. |
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