Have you been to our new updated website www.betterdemocracy.co.nz and our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/betterdemocracynz
Many new and exciting features not to be missed.
Steve
P.S. Our old blog will no longer be used and you will no longer receive notifications like this one unless you friend us on Facebook.
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Better Democracy NZ is a non-partisan, non-profit organisation.
Our mission is to foster the improvement of New Zealand's democratic system and encourage the use of direct democracy through the
Veto, Citizens' Initiated and Recall referendum.
________________________________________________
Thursday 28 August 2014
Sunday 6 July 2014
BLOG DISCONTINUED
The Better Democracy New Zealand blog has now been discontinued.
Please visit www.betterdemocracy.co.nz
or
visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/betterdemocracynz
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Please visit www.betterdemocracy.co.nz
or
visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/betterdemocracynz
Read more...
Tuesday 24 June 2014
Is a paradigm shift happening in the democratic world?
Politics must be changing when British politicians talk direct democracy! Nigel Farage has said UKIP wants to give people direct democracy - with
referendums to decide some policy.
Click here to watch the video
Read more...
Click here to watch the video
Read more...
Saturday 14 June 2014
Gregory Ferenstein: What Happens When Silicon Valley Experiments With Direct Democracy
http://www.fastcoexist.com/3031800/what-happens-when-silicon-valley-experiments-with-direct-democracy
Like a few other cities, the city is letting some citizens vote directly on how the city spends its money. But, of course, it's adding an online twist.
Read more...
Like a few other cities, the city is letting some citizens vote directly on how the city spends its money. But, of course, it's adding an online twist.
Read more...
Monday 2 June 2014
Press release:
2nd June, 2014
For immediate release:
New
Zealand suffering from democratic deficit says lobby group:
Fast-tracking the
introduction of Internet voting and ensuring that governments implement the
outcomes of Citizen’s Initiated referenda are two ways to address New Zealand’s
democratic deficit, according to a newly released documentary this week.
While most New
Zealanders probably believe they live in a democratic society, Better Democracy
New Zealand and its Founder, Steve Baron, suggest otherwise and have produced a
documentary to substantiate their argument.
In the You Tube
documentary, which is already attracting a large number of viewers and positive
reaction, Better Democracy New Zealand suggests a number of significant changes
to New Zealand’s democratic system. These include using the rollout of
Ultra-fast broadband to address inadequacies in the voting system by enabling
online voting, scrutinising legislation coming from the House of
Representatives and introducing a direct democracy system that is enjoyed by
more than 70% of Americans and all Swiss citizens.
The documentary titled, New Zealand’s Democratic Deficit,
raises issues about many other aspects of the New Zealand political system; the façade hiding what actually happens in
Parliament, the quality of political leadership and their disregard for
political processes, the lack of a codified Constitution, the fallacy of
entrenched laws, the dilemma of ‘conscience votes’ in Parliament, the abuse of
the ‘urgency’ process, along with what the documentary is calling New Zealand’s
“Hall of Shame” which highlights the dark side of numerous past and present
Members of Parliament.
Steve Baron says, “The
feedback from people viewing the documentary has been very encouraging and the content
has struck a chord with New Zealanders right across the political spectrum
because they know there’s a problem with their political system but they just
haven’t been aware of what the solution is, until now. It’s time we took a deep
and thoughtful look at our very weak political system and made much needed
changes”.
“It’s ironic that the
Internet Party, which announced Laila Harre as its new leader this week,
doesn’t even advocate for the use of the internet to improve our electoral
system, says Mr Baron.
This documentary leads
the viewer to consider what it suggests are powerful tools New Zealanders can
use to resolve this democratic deficit—direct democracy, the Swiss based system
of binding Citizens’ Initiated referendums, Veto referendums and Recall
referendums which have held the Swiss political system in high regard by many
political scientists around the world for over 140 years.
Mr Baron says, “We give
our politicians too much power with the only check and balance being an
election every few years which simply isn’t satisfactory in a modern, well
educated, well informed society which now demands more say over issues that
directly affect their lives”.
END
This documentary may be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-sH4vM6CD8
For more information please contact:
Steve Baron
Email: steve@betterdemocracy.co.nz
Ph: +61457032081
Read more...
Thursday 29 May 2014
New Zealand's Democratic Deficit video
Read more...
Saturday 29 March 2014
Dominic Baron: Our Constitutional Spokesperson
Better Democracy New Zealand is also pleased to announce that Dominic Baron is our Constitutional Spokesperson. Dominic was born in Buenos Aires in 1943 and educated in Argentina, Switzerland, England, and Spain. He is tri-lingual, speaking English, French, and Spanish and is an information technology specialist having worked in IT for over 40 years for companies in England, USSR, Switzerland, Spain, Australia, and New Zealand. Dominic has long held a special interest in Constitutional issues and recently put in a huge amount of work to produce our recent submission to the Constitutional Review Committee.
Read more...
Thursday 27 March 2014
Gary Holmes: Our new Local Body Spokesperson
Better Democracy New Zealand is pleased to announce that Gary Holmes is the latest addition to our team as our Local Body Spokesperson.
Gary Holmes has been involved in local body politics for the past 18 years and served three terms as a North Shore City Councillor from 1998 – 2007 and is currently in his second term as a member of the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board in the Auckland Council.
Gary has always been a strong advocate for participatory democracy and while a city councillor attempted to introduce binding citizens initiated referendums at North Shore and argued strongly that major decisions such as the sale of airport shares should be determined by referenda. He is also a strong supporter for constitutional reform.
Gary has a background in public relations and, outside of his political role, manages the operations and activities of three Auckland business associations.
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Thursday 13 February 2014
An interesting article by Professor Martin Devlin taking Sir Geoffrey Palmer's swipe at direct democracy prior to Christmas, to task.
http://www.nzcpr.com/an-arrogant-affront-to-democracy-in-new-zealand/
Read more...
http://www.nzcpr.com/an-arrogant-affront-to-democracy-in-new-zealand/
Read more...
Thursday 2 January 2014
Winston Peters on Direct Democracy
Steve Baron interviews Winston Peters from the New Zealand First Party about direct democracy.
Read more...
Read more...
Monday 18 November 2013
Swiss Voters Use BCIR for Basic Income Poll
100,000 Swiss voters recently used their voting power to petition a referendum on a guaranteed Basic Income . Please note BCIR New Zealand has no policy on the Basic Income .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GK4mjfpk58
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYAuAVVdEOE
Read more...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GK4mjfpk58
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYAuAVVdEOE
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Wednesday 6 November 2013
Please donate and help us spread the word about this new fundraising initiative to raise funds to create a new video about the lack of real democracy in New Zealand. Thank you in advance.
https://www.pledgeme.co.nz/1571
Read more...
https://www.pledgeme.co.nz/1571
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Thursday 17 October 2013
Monday 29 July 2013
Citizens' direct democracy, new system
An
example of improvements towards more direct democracy, assisted by internet and
mobile phones.
We should introduce this and better systems in UK and our countries and cities.
In early 2012 the Finnish parliament made law which enables a large number of citizens to put forward a law proposal. The proposers have six months to collect 50 thousand endorsements which is about 1.2 percent of eligible voters.
The proposal can be in the form of a drafted law and assuming that certain standards have been met the parliament is obliged to treat the proposal like a parliamentary "bill".
This is not full "citizen-led" (direct) democracy because, even if parliament rejects the proposal and refuses to put it into law, no referendum or plebiscite of the electorate must follow.
So, the Finnish citizens' initiative might be termed an agenda-setting tool, with small teeth (e.g. parliament must process and debate or consider the proposal and may NOT simply ignore it).
This innovation in governance shows some features of "electronic democracy" (e-democracy). Statements of support from signatories may be collected electronically or in paper form. The government has set up an online system to collect statements of support. A self-management system may also be used subject to certification by the Communications Regulatory Authority. An NGO named Open Ministry has assisted people and groups wishing to make a law-proposal. Open ministry states that in one case "the threshold of 50 000 supporters needed to pass the initiative to Parliament was met within 9 hours of launching the campaign and by midnight some 120 000 people had signed the initiative with their online bank codes or mobile phone."
A recent successful campaign has produced a law proposal which aims to reduce penalties on small-scale private downloading from peer-to-peer networks. In Finland as elsewhere, strong public opposition has grown against draconian penalties imposed for apparently trivial on-line offences involving "downloads".
----------------------------------------------------------------
report by
Campaign for direct democracy in Britain
Citizens' Initiative and Referendum I&R ~ GB
http://www.iniref.org/ Link to site index
http://www.iniref.org/carta.htm Election campaign call
We should introduce this and better systems in UK and our countries and cities.
In early 2012 the Finnish parliament made law which enables a large number of citizens to put forward a law proposal. The proposers have six months to collect 50 thousand endorsements which is about 1.2 percent of eligible voters.
The proposal can be in the form of a drafted law and assuming that certain standards have been met the parliament is obliged to treat the proposal like a parliamentary "bill".
This is not full "citizen-led" (direct) democracy because, even if parliament rejects the proposal and refuses to put it into law, no referendum or plebiscite of the electorate must follow.
So, the Finnish citizens' initiative might be termed an agenda-setting tool, with small teeth (e.g. parliament must process and debate or consider the proposal and may NOT simply ignore it).
This innovation in governance shows some features of "electronic democracy" (e-democracy). Statements of support from signatories may be collected electronically or in paper form. The government has set up an online system to collect statements of support. A self-management system may also be used subject to certification by the Communications Regulatory Authority. An NGO named Open Ministry has assisted people and groups wishing to make a law-proposal. Open ministry states that in one case "the threshold of 50 000 supporters needed to pass the initiative to Parliament was met within 9 hours of launching the campaign and by midnight some 120 000 people had signed the initiative with their online bank codes or mobile phone."
A recent successful campaign has produced a law proposal which aims to reduce penalties on small-scale private downloading from peer-to-peer networks. In Finland as elsewhere, strong public opposition has grown against draconian penalties imposed for apparently trivial on-line offences involving "downloads".
----------------------------------------------------------------
report by
Campaign for direct democracy in Britain
Citizens' Initiative and Referendum I&R ~ GB
http://www.iniref.org/ Link to site index
http://www.iniref.org/carta.htm Election campaign call
Read more...
Saturday 22 June 2013
Trust in the collective wisdom of citizens - the Greek experience
Greece has been the poster child for European economic crisis, but
former Prime Minister George Papandreou wonders if it's just a preview
of what's to come. “Our democracies," he says, "are trapped by systems
that are too big to fail, or more accurately, too big to control” --
while "politicians like me have lost the trust of their peoples." How to
solve it? Have citizens re-engage more directly in a new democratic
bargain.
George Papandreou draws on lessons learned from the Greek debt crisis as he helps guide the EU through difficult watershttp://www.ted.com/talks/george_papandreou_imagine_a_european_democracy_without_borders.html
Read more...
Monday 15 April 2013
Constitutional Review Debates
The first in a Sunday series on National radio on the basics of our constitutional review
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/lecturesandforums/constitutional-review
Read more...
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/lecturesandforums/constitutional-review
Read more...
Sunday 14 April 2013
Helen takes exception to the draft Constitution Title
What does everyone else think ? Is having the word "Aotearoa" in or out of the Constitution a dealbreaker for many people ? Would reading it stop you reading any further ?
I
have only got to the cover page of your Constitution but before I read any
further I take issue with calling our country Aotearoa/New Zealand. We
are New Zealand and any change to our country’s name should only be by
referendum. Slowly Aotearoa is creeping in as part of our country’s name,
when it isn’t. Before we know it the New Zealand part will be dropped and
we will just be called Aotearoa and this must never happen without a
referendum. I will personally oppose it strongly whenever it comes
up. We are New Zealand and its people are New Zealanders first and
foremost. Next thing we will be called Aotearoans or something equally
ridiculous.
Read more...
Saturday 13 April 2013
New Zealand Constitution - draft
https://www.box.com/shared/qb3r03dwk355rrlxpay9
Special thanks to Steve Baron & Dominic baron for many hours put into devising this demonstration Constitution for New Zealand . They believe a Constitution must grow organically & be a true initiative of the people of New Zealand , rather than of the existing parliament & political parties who are too influenced by the dsire to protect their power .
Read more...
Special thanks to Steve Baron & Dominic baron for many hours put into devising this demonstration Constitution for New Zealand . They believe a Constitution must grow organically & be a true initiative of the people of New Zealand , rather than of the existing parliament & political parties who are too influenced by the dsire to protect their power .
Read more...
Thursday 11 April 2013
Australian Citizen Initiated Referendum Bill 2013
Submissions being sought NOW !
Could this bill provide an example for New Zealand ?
The reasons for the referral are for the Committee to consider [ & seek public submission ]
1. Citizens' Initiated Referendum (CIR) promotes greater openness and accountability in public decision-making.
2. Laws instituted as a result of a CIR are more clearly derived from the popular expression of the people's will.
3. Government authority flows from the people and is based upon their consent.
4. Citizens in a democracy have the responsibility to participate in the political system.
5. The Inter Parliamentary Union's call on member states to strengthen democracy through constitutional instruments including the citizen's right to initiate legislation.
Citizen Initiated referendum Bill 2013
Read more...
Could this bill provide an example for New Zealand ?
The reasons for the referral are for the Committee to consider [ & seek public submission ]
1. Citizens' Initiated Referendum (CIR) promotes greater openness and accountability in public decision-making.
2. Laws instituted as a result of a CIR are more clearly derived from the popular expression of the people's will.
3. Government authority flows from the people and is based upon their consent.
4. Citizens in a democracy have the responsibility to participate in the political system.
5. The Inter Parliamentary Union's call on member states to strengthen democracy through constitutional instruments including the citizen's right to initiate legislation.
Citizen Initiated referendum Bill 2013
Read more...
Thursday 21 March 2013
Australian Senate Bill for Citizens Initiated Referenda
YOUR opportunity to make a submission - see below
-------- Original message --------
From: Ronald Evans <President@CIR-Australia.net>
Date: 20/03/2013 18:26 (GMT+10:00)
To: Evans Ronald <President@CIR-Australia.net>
Subject: Inquiry into Citizen Initiated Referendum Bill 2013
Behold, I bring glad tidings. Please see below.
From: Ronald Evans <President@CIR-Australia.net>
Date: 20/03/2013 18:26 (GMT+10:00)
To: Evans Ronald <President@CIR-Australia.net>
Subject: Inquiry into Citizen Initiated Referendum Bill 2013
Behold, I bring glad tidings. Please see below.
Ladies
& Gentlemen, this is a once in a lifetime chance to get Citizens' Initiated
Referendums (CIR) so please do whatever you can to express your support. You
could send a very brief statement to the committee merely saying that you
support this proposal. Just one page, not many minutes of your time, please.
You might also send an email to your federal MP and as many of your Senators as
you think fit. A few paragraphs, that's all; please. (Remember, it
is always best when writing to a legislator to make clear that you are one of
their constituents.)
You
may be assured that the the committee of CIR Australia will be making detailed
submissions to the inquiry and will be doing everything possible to support
this initiative from Senator Madigan.
To
the barricades citizens!
Ronald
Evans
President
CIR Australia
THE SENATE
STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION
Legislation Committee
20 March
2013
Mr
Ronald Evans
President
Citizens
Initiated Referendum- Australia
PO Box
3034
Norwood
SA 5067
Dear Mr Evans
Inquiry into Citizen Initiated Referendum Bill 2013
On 14 March 2013, the
Senate, on the recommendation of the Selection of Bills Committee, referred the
Citizen Initiated Referendum Bill 2013 to the Finance and Public Administration
Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 24 June 2013.
In undertaking the inquiry,
the Committee is to consider:
1. Citizens' Initiated
Referendum (CIR) promotes greater openness and accountability in public
decision-making.
2. Laws instituted as a result
of a CIR are more clearly derived from the popular expression of the people's
will.
3. Government authority flows
from the people and is based upon their consent.
4. Citizens in a democracy have
the responsibility to participate in the political system.
5. The
Inter Parliamentary Union's call on member states to strengthen democracy
through constitutional instruments including the citizen's right to initiate
legislation.
The Bill may be accessed
via the link: http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Fbillhome%2Fs900%22
The Committee invites you
to provide a written submission addressing issues that may be of relevance to
you. The submission should be lodged by 19 April 2013. The Committee
prefers to receive submissions online as an attached document through the
Committee's website via the Upload Submission Online link https://senate.aph.gov.au/submissions/pages/logon.aspx.
Alternatively, submissions may be emailed as an attached document to fpa.sen@aph.gov.au or mailed to the
address below.
Submissions become Committee documents and are made
public only after a decision by the Committee. Publication of submissions
includes loading them onto the internet and making them available to other
interested parties including the media. Please indicate if you wish the
Committee to consider keeping your submission, or part thereof, confidential.
Any person or organisation making a submission must not
release it without the approval of the Committee. Submissions are covered by
parliamentary privilege, however the unauthorised release of a submission is
not protected.
Information relating to Senate committee inquiries,
including notes to assist in the preparation of submissions for a committee,
can be located on the Internet at http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/wit_sub/index.htm
The
Committee will consider all submissions, and may invite individuals and
organisations to give evidence at a public hearing.
Should you
require further information, please contact the Committee Secretariat on
(02) 6277 3530.
Yours sincerely
Christine McDonald
Secretary
Begin
forwarded message:
From: "Committee, FPA (SEN)" <FPA.SEN@aph.gov.au>
Subject:
Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee- Inquiry
into Citizen Initiated Referendum Bill 2013
Date:
11:00:50 AM ACDT
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Tuesday 5 March 2013
Saturday 2 February 2013
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