Gov. Green Paper: Responsibility and democratic rights

Responsibility and democratic rights: Gov. Green Paper

Here is our first comment on the latest discussion paper of the Ministry
of Justice,
Green Paper 2009
Rights and responsibilities: developing our constitutional framework
(see contents below)
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/rights-responsibilities.pdf
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COMMENT
7 April 2009 at 5:41 pm

I want to ask the green paper’s authors why they have omitted to
consider improvements of our democratic rights, a major area of
responsible citizen-action in which an urgent overhaul is needed. I
refer here to improving democracy in the UK, countries and locally, by
adding to our “political rights” for instance “the right to participate
in the exercise of political power” (Marshall, cited in the green
paper). A respected observer and establishment insider not long ago
referred to the UK as an elective dictatorship and in league tables of
political participation Britain scores poorly. So called political
apathy and low election turnout result in part from these deficits.

You write “The challenge is how best to remind people of the importance
of individual responsibility and to give this greater prominence.”

It would be hard to imagine a better way to express personal civic
responsibility than by taking part in running our own public affairs.
Such expression however is hindered by a fundamental flaw in our
indirect, “representative” democracy which is that a single vote cast
once every four or five years gives us, the electorate, very little say
in public policy.

By introducing elements of direct, citizen-led democracy, we could
enable the electorate to decide on selected issues and (by calling a
referendum) veto unwanted law passed by local council or central government.
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The above comment from I&R ~ GB has been posted to the government's web
site, see http://governance.justice.gov.uk/join-the-debate/
Section: Approaches to a Bill of Rights and Responsibilities
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Rights and responsibilities: developing our constitutional framework
Contents
Foreword 3
Executive Summary 8
Chapter 1
Bills of Rights – seeking stability in times of uncertainty 11
Chapter 2
Responsibilities 14
The case for change 17
Criminal Justice 19
Education and the family 20
Examples in international and national instruments 22
Chapter 3
Rights 29
Criminal justice 32
Equality 37
Good administration 39
Social justice and the welfare state 41
Healthcare 44
Children 46
Living within environmental limits 48
Chapter 4
Legal Effect 51
Enforceability – a range of options 52
Decision-making and resource allocation: the role of the courts 57
Relation of a Bill of Rights and Responsibilities to other legislation 58
A Bill of Rights and Responsibilities and devolution 58
Chapter 5 Next Steps 62
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I&R ~ GB Citizens' Initiative and Referendum
Campaign for direct democracy in Britain
http://www.iniref.org/
http://www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/i-and-r.gb sign up for reform
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