Posts from — April 2012

In California, there is a ballot initiative that allows for petition for a public vote on the policies proposed. While this may sound like direct democracy and democracy at it’s finest, the reality of it is the manipulation of public opinion in order to create unnecessary dissension that may affect the efficiency of the democratic system in play.

With this policy in effect, the criminal justice cost has risen, the term limits of policy makers have been reduced to the extent that the elected officials now lack experience, and the policies enacted can only be overturned through public vote. These are all elements that affect the political and judicial system.

The other major problem is that getting on the ballot and being able to set the agenda costs millions of dollars. This process is favorable to those who have enough money to pay for advertising fees and promotional campaigns. This causes a favor of the elite who can manipulate public opinion to their favor and enact policies that benefit their businesses.

This makes me question, is this really what direct democracy is? How can it be done without prioritizing a certain group’s political agenda? Is the manipulation and domination of the wealthy inevitable?

Sources:

The article is one that speaks to the core problem of democracies. The promise of poverty reduction by twenty five percent by 2013-2014 is abandoned through the introduction of the discourse of ” balanced budget” of Ontario, which excludes measures that act against poverty. The underpinning problem is: in democracies, the change of governments and turnover of staff often symbolizes the problem of passing the buck between administrations. The accountability issue is one that threatens the spirit of democracy as a whole. The goals of various policies and ideals are lost in the transition process.

The article poses an important question, “It’s also worth noting that the Poverty Reduction Act was passed with much fanfare by MPPs of all parties in 2009. Will those same MPPs speak out now to demand that poverty reduction get the attention it deserves?”

It is vital to note the urgency of the matter. “At a time when food prices are rising by 4.6 per cent a year, the social assistance rate freeze amounts to a cut in income. It gets worse. Finance Minister Duncan also announced that benefits for people on social assistance will be reduced by $30 million this year, and over $200 million over three years. Meanwhile low-income parents will be forced to wait another year for a scheduled increase in the Ontario Child Benefit”. These are unnecessary policies at dire times for low income families.

Not only is poverty reduction not achieved, the policy widens the gap between the rich and the poor. The enactment of these policies seek to plunge deeper into the cycle of poverty, that will be even more costly in the future to get out of.

Source:

http://www.thestar.com/iphone/opinion/letters/article/1155350–ontario-budget-hunger-games