The Citizen in a Direct Democracy

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• published: 22 Apr 2015
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Being Well-Informed, Voting, and Speaking by every citizen is the only true way in order for Direct Democracy to work. Video Transcript: “Direct democracy, sometimes called "pure democracy," is a form of government in which the people themselves, rather than elected representatives, determine the laws and policies by which they are governed.” There are no elected representatives in a direct democracy. Every citizen above a certain age are allowed to attend political meetings and vote on political issues that are being discussed. In a direct democracy, when a unanimous decision is not reached, majority rules. There are many benefits from a Direct Democracy and they all relate to the Rights and Responsibilities that are inherent in an individual in this type of government. As with everything, nothing is perfect. There are consequences that come from having a Direct Democracy and most of them come from the failure of citizens to exercise their rights or fulfill their responsibilities. Direct Democracy deters corruption because of the absence of representatives. It reminds the citizens of their civil responsibility because they will feel more in control of their community. It also creates a more incorporated society as everyone’s input is heard. These benefits are only possible if individuals fulfill their duties: Full, Active participation and being well-informed citizens. And because full, active participation is only possible when citizens exercise their rights: to vote and to speak, their rights can also be said to be duties. Direct Democracy may sound like a dream, but it is actually very hard to achieve in practice. People are generally not very interested in politics, and therefore not everyone will vote and therefore everyone’s voice is not heard. There can also be a lack of expertise in complex matters. Manipulation can also sway the vote of the masses through promotional materials. Additionally, it is harder to get everyone’s vote when there are too many individuals in the community, and because it is harder to get votes, the legislative process is much slower. Add to this when there are multiple people without any experience in politics fight over an issue in circles. It’s not so easy to reach a consensus after all. Direct Democracy: Is it even possible? Sources: http://nlcatp.org/top-7-pros-and-cons-of-direct-democracy/ http://democracy.livingreviews.org/index.php/lrd/article/viewArticle/lrd-2010-1/22 http://www.activatingdemocracy.com/pros-and-cons/ http://www.co-intelligence.org/CIPol_directdemocracy.html http://www.proconservative.net/CUNAPolSci201PartTwoE.shtml http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/direct_democracy.htm