Switzerland might just have a lesson for us in democracy

Over in Europe the beautiful country of Switzerland might just have a lesson for us in democracy that we might profit from. 

They combine a representative Parliamentary system, a bit like ours, but with more responsibe behaviour, with a direct voting system for citizens to have their say on specific government policies. 

For instance, it is possible for the Swiss to challenge laws passed by parliament if 50,000 signatures or more are collected within 100 days of a law’s passage. If the number of signature collected exceeds that number a national vote is held.

The people are also allowed propose constitutional amendments but this time it needs 100,000 signatures to get the proposal to a national vote.

Certain issues like joining international organisations or changes to the constitution are considered far to important to leave to the politicians alone and must always go to a national referendum.

Having a constitution like this is an elegant was of keeping politicians hand cuffed to their duty by reminding them that they are accountable at all times to the people, who are sovereign. 

So how would this benefit us. 

Well firstly, I believe it could be a way of re-engaging the public with politics in a positive way, building trust and making the effort of voting seem worthwhile and not a waste of time. Because, lets face it, most of us feel disappointed and alienated from the rather toxic brand of politics that has developed in Westminster over the last two decades.

Getting into the habit of regular voting where your vote will actually count will increase the incentive to vote, and hopefully increase the turnout because the results can be trusted, and make voters feel they, not the politicians, own the process.

Direct democracy can also act as a brake on runaway government power. Such as we are always witnessing in the UK where government manifesto promises are jettisoned as soon as they are in power. Or policies not mentioned in the manifesto, which no one voted for, are suddenly forced upon the electorate with no consultation what so ever. With Direct Democracy voters could challenge controversial laws, like digital ID and immigration policy, before they take effect. So, no more elective dictatorship. 

We in this country are rightly fed up with adversarial politics. We are also fed up with politicians totally ignoring our wished even when we make then abundantly clear. Under the DD system politicians will have to consider public opinion as the laws are drafted as they will know any law could be challenged. this will lead to more moderate polices better suited to the public temper. And with any luck would put an end to the short term mentality that blights present policy making. 

The Swiss system gives the cantons, it’s what the Swiss call counties, and citizens strong voices in decision making. Similar mechanisms would strengthen local governance in England. 

The Westminster Government is at present hell bent on devolving power down to artificial regions in England on the pretext of bringing power to the people. No one believes this of course, the brake up of England is about destroying our unity not power sharing. 

Yet here with the Swiss DD model power could be devolved to the people by organising our ancient counties alone the same model as the cantons, without any of the destruction of Englands ancient unity, and without the vast cost of setting up these bogus regions with which no true Englishman or woman would have any loyalty or pride. Our ancient counties are part of our historic heritage let these be the mechanism to bring power to the people. 

Participating in regular debates and referendums would help people to become more engaged with the political life of the country and give our politics a broader base for policy making rather than the narrow Westminster centric vision of the elites. At this present time we are living with the horror of decades of leaving to much decision making just to politicians, who, let’s face it, have ceased to have any respect or regard for us. Viewing us as a nuisance once the voting is over.

Now of course those who do not like the idea of DD argue that there are downsides to DD the first one they sight is, 

Populism and the rise of demagoguery, spivy politicians over promising the electorate and then not being able or willing to keep their election promises. My answer to that would be, isn’t that exactly what we have at the moment. 

Another response is that the voters would suffer from turn out fatigue. This is a possibility but if the voting was kept the the most important national, or local issues and the voters were not call upon to vote for trivial policies of politicians vanity projects then voting could be kept to a minimum especially if there were two or three policies voted on that the same time. And as I have already said part of our present predicament is that we have left to much up to the politicians as it is, it won’t hut us to put a bit of effort in to our own governance.

Another past argument against DD is the cost of frequent referendums. In the days of paper ballots this was a legitimate consideration. But today ? When organisations like banks can process millions of card transactions without batting an eye then there should be no problem. The government can supply us with a voting card, and a card reader. Even the biggest counties only have about half a million people in them so county voting should not be a problem. And in national poles counties could vote in rotation so the system should never be overloaded. With a system like this or similar the cost should be kept to a minimum.

The real advantage of DD is reconnecting the people with politics and disconnecting the Elite from too much power. We must rebalance our public life which has become overburdened and top heavy with professional hangers on, spivs, and gravy train riders. And alas, too few credible politicians. 

In part 2 I will set out the nuts and bolts of Direct Democracy as practised in Switzerland.

Stay Strong