News – Page 11 – The National Citizens Initiative for Democracy

South Carolina editorial roundup
The Post and Courier of Charleston on the statewide initiative process: The Legislature is the dominant force in South Carolina's government and, no surprise, hasn't been willing to give the voters access to a statewide initiative process. For the sake of accountability, that ought to change. Jim Gordon, state director of Voters-In-Charge, cites the absence of a provision for statewide initiative petition, as well as the high threshold for citizens to force local referendums. Read the Rest...

Gravel considering Obama primary challenge, calls for new 9/11 investigation
Read the full transcript of TheDC’s interview below: TheDC: You’re famous for reading the Pentagon Papers into the congressional record. Do you see Julian Assange as a modern day Daniel Ellsberg? Read the Rest...

Direct Democracy in Chicago
JESSE FREESTON, PRODUCER, TRNN: In our previous segments with author and journalist Ben Dangl, we discussed the developing conflicts between leftist leaders in South America and some of the social movements that brought them to power in the first place. But the book [Dancing with Dynamite: Social Movements and States in Latin America] also touches on how the methods of Latin American social movements have influenced people in the United States. Read the Rest...

Constructive dialogue — what a concept!
Talking heads. Push-polls. Stacked town hall meetings. Attack ads. Free speech for sale. Many voters, particularly younger ones, are increasingly disaffected or even disgusted by the vicious vaudeville that's taking the place of thoughtful political and public-policy discourse. Read the Rest...

Nelson men push binding referenda
New Zealand needs to embrace the tools of direct democracy to halt its slow slide towards totalitarianism, according to a new organisation set up by two Nelson men. Tourism operator Chris Salt and deer farmer Mike Waring formed For Real Democracy NZ earlier this year to push for binding citizens-initiated referenda in New Zealand. Mr Waring said the goal was to make votes cast in a referendum binding on Parliament, giving the voting public real control over government policy. Read the Rest...

pointing the way towards a new republic
By Charlie Mcbride ONE OF our most esteemed political commentators, Fintan O’Toole, is appearing at the Town Hall Theatre next week in a reading/discussion centred around his provocative new book Enough Is Enough; How to Build a New Republic. In Enough Is Enough, O’Toole detonates the five myths that govern Irish life – from the notion that politicians properly represent their constituents and ‘get things done’ to the dangerous idea that Ireland in the early 21st century became one of the richest countries in the world. Read the Rest...

Ordinary Citizens will draft new Icelandic constitution
In Iceland the new constitution will really be the voice of the people. There are elections being held to choose 31 people who will forge a new charter. This exercise in direct democracy is in part a result of the outrage at government that followed after the nation's economic crash. Read the Rest...

Ordinary People Doing the Extraordinary with Dwayne Hunn
Listen Thursday, November 11, 2010 from 2-3 pm on the Progressive Radio Network to hear the story behind a book listed by Ralph Nader as one of the top ten books to read! Ordinary People Doing the Extraordinary: The Story of Ed and Joyce Koupal and the Initiative Process was authored by Dwayne Hunn, PhD., MA, Executive Director of Peoples Lobby, about his mentors and founders of People's Lobby (PLI). Read the Rest...

US main parties losing popularity
US main parties losing popularity Sat Sep 25, 2010 4:28PM Interview with former US Senator Mike Gravel Democrats and Republicans are both losing popularity ahead of November mid-term elections. 59% disapprove the way Democrats are handling the economy. The Republicans, on the other hand, are doing no better since 68% frown on how they are performing. Read the Rest...