BACKGROUND TO THE PROPOSED ACT

BACKGROUNDDr. Christian R. Komor, Grand Rapids, Michigan

The original intent of the Constitution of the United States was to place as much control as possible in the hands of the many - the citizens of the United States of America.

Scholarly and unbiased review of documents generated at the time of the establishment of the Constitution of the United States of America reveal an intent by the framers of that instrument to create a governmental structure which is as direct an expression of the will of the citizenry as possible. In the 1700s the means did not exist to cause such representation other than personal appearances by representative in congress.

This original intent has been perverted and a general disempowerment of the populace now exists. Power is now in the hands of the few.

The government envisioned by the majority of the authors of the Constitution desired a structure which was the administration of the wishes of a voting public with direct and immediate control over their representatives and legislation. Today most voters describe feelings of powerlessness, disaffection and even distrust for government. Events during the past several decades have demonstrated a wide divergence between the general population, whether this is intended or not. This has been particularly true of the Executive Branch which has increased in power over the lat two centuries while often making controversial decisions at odds with large segments of the populace.

Special interest groups, PACs and political parties have too much influence over governmental elections and appropriations.

There is little argument that special interest groups are problematic, but there is little to dissuade this activity at present.

The Supreme Court which represents the judgment of the people is completely insulated from the populace.

The framers of the US Constitution were not infallible. Many scholars agree that appointment of Supreme Court Justices by the sitting President creates bias, political infighting and division. The result is a Court which is politically influenced rather than impartial as would be the ideal.

We now have the technology for direct elections and direct citizen participation in government.

With certain security measures in place and public voting places for those who cannot afford the technology, American citizens could not only vote for those civil servants who they would hire to administer their wishes, but also vote in those wishes themselves. There is no reason not to move to this technology other than personal and financial interests which have no place in democratic government.

The United States government is unduly expensive due to its current structural limitations.

DDD will permit huge taxpayer savings as government is reduced to only what is needed to analyze issues, propose choices, collect votes from the populace on those choices and then administer the wishes of the populace. The Administrative Branch will be reduced in particular as it will serve primarily clerical functions administering the directive the voting population.

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Digital Democracy: http://etopiamedia.net/empnn/pages/cpt-emnn/cpt-emnn503-5551212.html
Direct Democracy: http://www2.prestel.co.uk/rodmell/index.htm
IBM Inst. For Electronic Govt.: http://www-1.ibm.com/industries/government/ieg/index.html

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States with respect to direct digital democracy. (Introduced in Senate)

000th CONGRESS
000 Session
S. J. RES.
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States with respect to direct digital democracy.
IN THE US SENATE
May 1, 2006
_______________ introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the ______________

JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States with respect to direct digital democracy.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid only when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years after the date of final passage of this joint resolution:
Article --
SECTION 1. A secured and monitored computerized system utilizing the internet will be established as a voter gateway. This system called the Direct Digital Democracy (DDD) system will be accessible by personal computer and, or through computer stations provided expressly for this purpose at all public libraries in the United States. The Direct Digital Democracy site will contain relevant information concerning laws, bills, amendments and elections currently under consideration in the United States. The DDD voter gateway will also provide updated information on national budget and expenditures, and program effectiveness ratings. This technology will be developed and monitored through the existing national security apparatus and by Congress.

SECTION 2. Proposals for legislation will be put forward by either, (a) one- third vote of elected representatives of the House and Senate, or (b) one- third vote of the General Voting Population (GVP). Proposals for legislation and all relevant background information will be placed before the GVP on the first day of each month by means of the Direct Digital Democracy secured internet site. Votes will be tallied on the 15th day of each month at Noon.

SECTION 3. Elections for all Federal offices including that of President, House Member, Senate Member and Supreme Court Justice will be held via the Direct Digital Democracy internet voter gateway. Elections will be held (by 51% majority) every one year for each office. There will be no term limits. Electronically monitored approval ratings will be updated monthly for each governmental representative. Approval ratings dropping below 33% will trigger dismissal from elected post, but will not limit a candidate’s ability to run again. No elected official will possess veto powers.

SECTION 4. Attempting to influence voting on the Direct Digital Democracy system will be prosecutable as a felony. All political advertising designed to influence voter opinion in print or electronic media will be considered a felony under this Section. Free discussion of issues and candidates in public forums will not be subject to this Section.

SECTION 5. The several States will utilize this Federal Direct Digital Democracy model to develop similar means of citizen participation in each of the several States.

ACTIONS STEPS FOR NEW PATRIOTS

ACTION STEPS FOR PATRIOTS

The National situation for the United States and the international environment of the 21st Century is extremely complex and interconnected in ways it would take a lifetime to understand. Religion, politics, economics and psychology are all at play in a constantly shifting mosaic against a backdrop of distrust and smoldering rivalries. Emerging markets, intense poverty and unequal distribution of resources all add to the tension and complexity. Professor Jeffrey Garden stated last year in his article on Foreign Affairs,

The bottom line is that geopolitics and geo-economics are deeply intertwined. In essence, American global influence is governed by a strong economy (fueled by energy resources) and a strong military to ensure global stability.

Our current administration in the United States has reacted to this geo-political-economic environment (GPE) by developing policies similar to other superpowers in other centuries. In general the concept is to extend as rapidly as possible our influence throughout the world so that the resources needed to maintain our current US lifestyle are secured and we are protected from terrorism.

In this, President Bush and his team are in some ways the embodiment of the U.S. collective conscious. The Administration’s actions are simply a more extreme expression of the corporate greed that has been the powerhouse and downfall of America. We are now reaping the results of this greed which has led our us to budget over 50% of our tax dollars for a military which has smoothed the way for corporate incursions into other nations who have resources we desire. This lifestyle has been hurting other nations in countless ways for the last 40 years. As well-know security analyst Chris Parkerson points out:

Unequal trade agreements, systemic taxation of other nations through dollar hegemony, dual standards in the way we define specific experiences related to national self-determination and human rights and the political realist's view that accepts some strongmen (as was said of Anastasio Somoza) as necessary evils just so they are on our side.

Now, the Bolivarian movement under President Chavez of Venezuela and Iran's president are teaming to break the mighty U.S. hegemony. Mercosur is replacing the old U.S. led Latin coalitions. Russia and China are teaming with "rogue nations" so they can get more oil and aid in the weakening of the U.S. It is difficult to see how even the United States can, by force of might, overcome all of these odds and triumph as the leading world power in whose image all other countries follow.

All superpowers have had to face these GPE issues. Most in history have failed to allow core values and quite diplomacy to rule in a fair and just manner for all involved. It has always been easier to rule by intimidation and force. It is easier to be reactive rather than proactive acting based on fear and greed rather than principles.

When we do shift to principles a number of strategies present themselves for resolving our various complex GPE issues. Focusing on principles (e.g. thou shall not steal) so it is not correct to invade someone else's territory) rather than reacting to situations (e.g. we need more oil) shifts our way of looking at the world and makes the complex less so. Here are a few Principle-Based solutions. Some many seem fantastical, but when one thinks back on breakthroughs and innovations of the past (e.g. the world being round not flat) most of them were at one time dismissed as being too outlandish to consider. Here we go:

(1) It is obvious that the United States needs to have an overwhelmingly strong military defense. We also need a military that is modernized for dealing with 21st century threats. We also need to pursue terrorists and criminals who are a direct threat to the State into other territories – giving the government involved advance warning.

(2) As much as we may want to use that military strength to grab resources from other nations that is not acceptable based on Principles. Barter, exchange and cooperation in order to obtain those resources have the crucial additional benefit of developing interdependency, close ties, camaraderie and mutual support. Without those elements the world will continue to tear itself apart. Forcing ourselves to go through the crucible of fair trade ultimately leads to safety. Power grabs of resources leads to insecurity and danger. As the biggest kid on the block we have responsibilities that come with power to set the tone for healthy ethical behavior in the international community. The United Nations, who we have treated shamefully in recent years, should be a primary forum for demonstrating our principles, ethics and morals. As Alexis de Tocqueville said, "America is great because she is good. If America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."

(3) Dependence on foreign oil is leading to significant problems for the US and yet there is no concerted effort like there was, for example, during the World Wars, to direct our national will to solve the problem. Instead we are grabbing for other people’s oil. Shifting to telecommunications rather than travel would save not only huge amounts of oil, but also slow global warming and increase our collective health through less pollution. Making real efforts to harness geothermal, wind, water and solar energy would also make a difference and have the added benefit of bringing together individuals, groups and corporations to achieve this end. Perhaps, as with the goal of reaching the Moon, a goal could be set for energy independence by 2015.

(4) The Founding Fathers of our governments (with the possible exception of James Madison) never intended our government to be the gigantic bemoth it is now. No, this does not mean we should turn power over to corporations and special interest groups. The original intent of the Constitution was to place as much control as possible in the hands of the People. Somehow this has become perverted to the point where the average individual feels like "there is nothing I can do" and elected officials are enjoying huge salaries and perks and wielding dramatic amounts of power in influence which special interests then peddle to.
Visit http://www.directdigitaldemocracy.blogsopt.com/ from time to time to keep track of progress on this exciting concept of Direct Digital Democracy. Shifting to a direct democracy, in which “government” is simply the administration of the wishes of a voting public with direct and immediate control over their representatives and legislation, is the solution to many of our governmental and geopolitical ills. Imagine if we could dismiss a senator or congress person by 51% electronic vote right now today, if we needed no president, if we each voted directly on legislative issues and Supreme Court judges. Imagine if PACs and special interests had no one to peddle to, and political parties were no longer needed! We have the technology to accomplish this right now and it is what the framers of the Constitution wanted for us, but couldn’t give us because the vehicle (computers) was lacking at the time, so why doesn’t our government want to give up the power it has over us!?
We now have the technology for direct elections and direct citizen participation in government. With certain security measures in place and public voting places for those who cannot afford the technology, American citizens could not only vote for those civil servants who they would hire to administer their wishes, but also vote in those wishes. Think of the huge savings as government is reduced to only what is needed to analyze issues, propose choices, collect votes from the populace on those choices and then administer the wishes of the populace. While an Administrative Branch would probably be eliminated under this system, the other branches of government would remain as checks and balances (with the Supreme Court being directly elected or elected by the House and Senate. Elections would be replaced by electronically-monitored approval ratings which, dropping below a certain level, would trigger replacement of the Representative.

(5) Our Principles tell us that lying and deception are not helpful behaviors. All governmental workers should be held to a zero tolerance policy where any lie (including "spinning" the truth) would result in immediate dismissal.

(6) Return to the separation of Church and State. Just take a look at how religious fundamentalism combined with politics is working in the Middle East and it will take any rational person a nano-second to see the place for religion is in the church, home and community not politics or government.

(7) Always approach other countries with friendship and cooperation. When the Soviet Union fell, for example, a large and very public effort should have been made to reach our and cement ties of cooperation. Think how much safer we would feel now about all those nukes floating around in Siberia! As President Carter stated in his forthright book Our Endangered Values (p. 199)"as with human beings, admirable characteristics of a nation are not defined by size and physical prowess. What are some of the other attributes of a super power? ...demonstrable commitments to truth, justice, peace, freedom, humility, human rights, generosity, and the upholding of other moral values.

(8) So many of our worlds difficulties can be traced to over-population and the situation is getting worse. Where will the theology of birth control be when planet Earth dies under the strain of too many billions of humans all struggling for the same limited resources? We must immediately work toward global population control encouraging all countries to set incentives for 2 or less children per couple and discouragements (e.g. taxing) for couples with more.

So these are some constructive ideas. These, of course, are broad Principle-based solutions, yet even one these 8 changes (1-4 seem essential to our very survival) would have dramatic beneficial effects on the US and our global climate. Principle-based choices like these would bring people together rather than separating them with fear, jealousy and greed. What can you do? Get behind one or more of these ideas that makes sense to you. Research what has already been done on these ideas online. Read the Federalist and Anti-Federalist papers to learn more about how our democracy was intended to be. Begin talking to others, form a local discussion group, or bring the issue to one that already exits. Start a campaign to get a celebrity in on the idea. Write your Representative, picket in from of their house or office. Go online and make bumper stickers. Donate to organizations that are already working towards these issues. All we have to do as individuals is to take the next right step. Do it today!


***Visit our links page where you can explore more of the very exciting developments in the Direct Democracy and Digital Democracy movements. (Note that other countries, particularly the Swiss, Canadians and the UK, are ahead of the US in this area.) ***See our page on the Direct Digital Democracy Act - a proposed Ammendment to the US Constitution.