At 01:20 AM 1/17/98 GMT, eva.durant wrote:
snip
>to mention the foreign invasions, wars, isolation etc.
>At no point have I called it a "small mistake", it is a major
>point of the tragedy; deformation was the only possible outcome
>based on such insufficient initial conditions.
>
>Most of these conditions do not exist presently
>1. we have more experience of some democracy worldwide,
>2. we have factors more capacity for the production of
> all necessities that now include more than the bare basics,
> for all the present and projected population if it
> manages to level out in 50 years..
>3. We have technology that could enable direct democracy,
> based on all freely available information to function.
>
snip
Let me restate that part of Eva's missive with which I particularly agree:
>2. we have factors more capacity for the production of
> all necessities that now include more than the bare basics,
> for all the present and projected population if it
> manages to level out in 50 years..
>3. We have technology that could enable direct democracy,
> based on all freely available information to function.
We (Canadians for Direct Democracy) had a very successful public meeting
last night -- three speakers made presentations about the recently-appointed
Task Force on Direct Democracy for the District of North Vancouver (a suburb
of Vancouver of about 80,00) -- the Mayor, 2 councillors, 2 staff, and 40-50
interested citizens attended.
I am convinced that we can make progress here at the grass-roots level - and
that DD could make a SIGNIFICANT difference, over time, in the direction of
REAL progress, which to my mind is:
-- stabilization at a sustainable level of "population X energy
consumption/capita (probably way below current levels)
-- establishing a non-exploitative money system, possibly along the lines of
LETS
-- establishing a non-indoctrinating, non-abusive, child-rearing and
educational system
-- continuing to move towards personal and societal transformation as per
Ken Wilber
-- and, of course, some form of Direct Democracy, where ALL levels
(including GLOBAL, which may be with us soon through MAI) of government are
ACCOUNTABLE to the people through some (Swiss-like) system like that
proposed by Canadians for Direct Democracy -- this seems to be the most
easily-achievable of the five aims.
There may well be more "necessary and sufficient conditions", but these will
do for now
And to the extent that Futurework discussions talk to any or all of the
above, I will participate
Colin Stark
Vice-President
Canadians for Direct Democracy
Vancouver, B.C.
http://www.npsnet.com/cdd/
[EMAIL PROTECTED] (listserv)
