The New Check and Balance: Time for Direct Democracy?
May 9, 2009 – 12:10 pmThe National Initiative for Democracy (NI4D) is former SEN Mike Gravel’s vehicle for advocating a national ballot initiative. While I am suspicious of direct democracy, as it often turns into mob rule, I offer the link above as evidence that the anti-Establishment Left has not wholly thrown its’ lot with the current Administration.
The list of endorsers (Noam Chomsky, Ralph Nader, and so forth) is not one with which this writer would normally associate politically; it does, however, include some Libertarian activists, Richard Stallman, creator of the GNU Project and founder of the Free Software Foundation, and includes a Cicero quote about power and freedom coming from direct participation in law-making, as one is either a participant, or one is a subject to the laws made by those who are. The latter is the most compelling endorsement that NI4D has, and given the breakdown in Constitutional order and the rule of law under the past several administrations, perhaps this idea deserves a look, as it might provide a check and balance on our rulers that the 9th and 10th Amendments no longer do. (With over half of state and local government funding coming from the federal government, it is safe to say that federalism is dead.)
Comments?
One Response to “The New Check and Balance: Time for Direct Democracy?”
If Gravel, Chomsky and Nader support it my first natural inclination is to distrust it and oppose it. I’m much more enthusiastic over the 10th amendment movements in MT,UT and TX right now. I’d prefer to be activist towards restoring our country and government than subscribe to the tyranny of an ignorant and apathetic manipulated majority.
By Nik on May 9, 2009