Direct Democracy Ireland

[admin]

Anyone heard of them? They had a meeting in Leixlip last night and I was sort of cajoled into attending. Kinda glad I did as their enthusiasm was refreshing, even if some of the dots mightn't have been fully joined up.

http://directdemocracyireland.ie/

[DEMPSEY]

Who is behind this.

[mr hoppy]

I know it's the lowest common denominator but I'm sure people most have found the enthusiasm of certain grass root movements in 1930s German refreshing.

The horse is bolted, where were these guys four or five years ago when they could have made a difference?

Not obvious who they are either.

http://whois.domaintools.com/directdemocracyireland.ie

Sorry for the politics.

[mr hoppy]

Any documentary evidence for that, or anything to evidence that their current posture has any resemeblence to their position five years ago? Just asking, as long time nay sayer I remember that a lot of pundits changed their tune after the stuff hit the fan and this is the first I've heard of these guys.

Again, sorry for the politics. I'll stop now.

[mr hoppy]

In fairness, I hear you but while direct democracy has a good record in Switzerland, it's not a panacea., Some might say that in California direct democracy has been hijacked by vested interests with deep pockets who use paid canvasers to get the signatures to the point where private citizens have no hope of influencing what is supposed to be direct democracy.

That's definitely enough politics for me.

[Will_D]

When I worked in Southern Germany I had to use Swiss trains to get to Zurich airport.

The Swiss held a referendum to ask the people "would they like the Intercity trains to run more frequently and if so would you be prepared to pay for the increase by increases in direct taxation"

The Swiss said "yes" and took a hike in taxation to pay for it!

Us blow-ins just benefitted from a doubling in frequency of IC trains!!

Loony California is a differerent model for direct rule by referenda!

[Eoin]

I've been watching these guys for a while now too, I think I became aware of them when they were trying to tip their membership numbers to a point where they could run a party candidate and didn't make the numbers. I signed up but am curoius as to what has happened since as they went quiet and I stopped visiting the website, they did have a lot of gaps to fill in though even at that point.