Comments on: What Obama Did Right http://andrew-miller.com/2008/11/what-obama-did-right/ Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:55:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Andrew http://andrew-miller.com/2008/11/what-obama-did-right/comment-page-1/#comment-18 Andrew Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:36:25 +0000 http://andrewmiller.wordpress.com/?p=199#comment-18 Evan- I will have to re-read what I wrote and likely edit it. I didn't intend to say that the examples I gave were literally direct democracy in action, just that they are steps toward direct democracy. I believe the Estonian example is a hybrid however, as much so as some others. Obviously a major hurtle to overcome in most countries, including ours, is that fact that our current foundations of government mandate a representative system. I believe however that digital technology holds the key to bringing the culture into a revolutionary mindset of changing those foundations. Thank you so much for your discourse on the topic. I greatly appreciate your thoughts as they give me a chance to reflect on my own. Evan- I will have to re-read what I wrote and likely edit it. I didn’t intend to say that the examples I gave were literally direct democracy in action, just that they are steps toward direct democracy. I believe the Estonian example is a hybrid however, as much so as some others. Obviously a major hurtle to overcome in most countries, including ours, is that fact that our current foundations of government mandate a representative system. I believe however that digital technology holds the key to bringing the culture into a revolutionary mindset of changing those foundations.

Thank you so much for your discourse on the topic. I greatly appreciate your thoughts as they give me a chance to reflect on my own.

]]> By: evanravitz http://andrew-miller.com/2008/11/what-obama-did-right/comment-page-1/#comment-16 evanravitz Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:59:18 +0000 http://andrewmiller.wordpress.com/?p=199#comment-16 None of what you mention is actually direct democracy. Direct democracy means people vote directly for laws, not just for representatives who vote on laws. Only Switzerland and Uruguay have national direct/representative hybrid democracy. 24 U.S. States have some direct democracy: ballot initiatives. The most evolved project for a hybrid direct/representative democracy is led by former Sen. Mike Gravel. Registered voters can now vote to ratify the National Initiative for Democracy at http://Vote.org, much as citizens ratified the Constitution at the Conventions when the Legislatures wouldn't! None of what you mention is actually direct democracy. Direct democracy means people vote directly for laws, not just for representatives who vote on laws. Only Switzerland and Uruguay have national direct/representative hybrid democracy. 24 U.S. States have some direct democracy: ballot initiatives.

The most evolved project for a hybrid direct/representative democracy is led by former Sen. Mike Gravel. Registered voters can now vote to ratify the National Initiative for Democracy at http://Vote.org, much as citizens ratified the Constitution at the Conventions when the Legislatures wouldn’t!

]]> By: oo12oo http://andrew-miller.com/2008/11/what-obama-did-right/comment-page-1/#comment-17 oo12oo Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:06:13 +0000 http://andrewmiller.wordpress.com/?p=199#comment-17 Great post, Andrew! Thanks for the good reading. Have to agree that the Obama Team made terrific use of modern day technological advances to create a sense of community and "we/us" mode. http://ontheseventhday.wordpress.com/ Great post, Andrew! Thanks for the good reading. Have to agree that the Obama Team made terrific use of modern day technological advances to create a sense of community and “we/us” mode.

http://ontheseventhday.wordpress.com/

]]>