There's a new project in Oregon that could be the prototype of a great TAB tool. It's called the Citizens Initiative Review (CIR) and it could help make direct democracy work better.
We're seriously attached to citizen ballot initiatives in Oregon as a way to reclaim some governing power. But they can be crude instruments, subject to a lot of deception, covert agendas and (supposedly) unforeseen consequences.
Can citizen-initiated lawmaking work more like it's supposed to? Here's a letter I just got that starts to explain CIR and the group behind it. See if you're intrigued by what they're up to.
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4 comments:
Citizen Initiative Review is a great idea. It's 1 of the 2 most likely -and evolved- reforms to ballot initiatives happening now.
The other is the National Initiative project headed by former Sen. Mike Gravel, which includes deliberative "review" improvements like CIR, but also makes initiatives less influenced by money, and allows for NATIONAL initiatives -which we could use right now to stop torture, domestic spying, aggressive wars, etc.
You can read vote to ratify the National Initiative at http://Vote.org, much as citizens -NOT the existing 13 legislatures- ratified the Constitution at the Conventions!
Here's the link you need: Vote.org
Regardless of your political party affiliation--including if you don't have one--if you're interested in enhancing direct democracy in our government, the Citizen Initiative Review is well worth looking into and supporting.
Thank you, Jeff, for bringing CIR and other democracy- and hope-enhancing ideas to folks' attention!
Hello Jeff,
Thanks for highliting this! Great idea and much needed.
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