[LINK] Government 2.0: Policy and Practice

[Bernard Robertson-Dunn]

Tom Worthington wrote:
> Senator Lundy's "Government 2.0: Policy and 
> Practice"  is a one day conference at Parliament 
> House, Canberra, 22 June 2009: 
> <http://www.katelundy.com.au/2009/05/29/public-sphere-2-open-government-policy-and-practice/>.
>
> This is about creating an even more participatory 
> form of government in Australia.
>   
I don't think that we have any form of participatory democracy in 
Australia and my preference is that we never do, given the disastrous 
situation that California has got itself into by letting citizens make 
policy decisions. Participatory democracy may increase the involvement 
of constituents but it makes a mess of accountability and responsibility.

For the record, participatory democracy involves decision making by 
constituents in the political process. We have a representative 
democracy which is a form of government based on decisions being made by 
elected individuals who represent the constituents and which has a 
reasonable amount of accountability and responsibility. (That's a 
recognition that in the present political climate, accountability and 
responsibility are not as good as they could be).

Senator Lundy is using technology to facilitate communications with her 
constituents, which is a good thing. Let's not confuse it with a major 
change to the political system.

-- 
 
Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Canberra Australia
brd at iimetro.com.au