Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site harpo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!floyd!harpo!jad From: jad@harpo.UUCP (jad) Newsgroups: net.politics,net.news.group,net.misc Subject: participative democracy Message-ID: <2553@harpo.UUCP> Date: Mon, 4-Jun-84 14:49:13 EDT Article-I.D.: harpo.2553 Posted: Mon Jun 4 14:49:13 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 6-Jun-84 01:25:27 EDT Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Whippany Lines: 33 It is extremely important to the welfare of the world that a partici- pative type of democratic decision-making become well practiced, refined and popularized. Suppose a cardinal issue of world-wide concern, the nuclear threat, were examined through a forum open to all people of all nations. In this forum, all varying ideas for dealing with this issue would be welcome. Then, after a general agreement to terminate the exchange of ideas, successive run-off votes would be taken until the numerous proposals were finally reduced to one. With the endorsement of everyone involved, that proposition would constitute a forceful appeal to world leaders. Such a movement, of itself, might engender other movements to deal with the nuclear threat. Moreover, it would be an experiment in direct democracy. John DiNardo