Micol Lucchi — This is how Switzerland’s direct democracy works

Swiss democracy by referendum is quite different from so-called liberal democracies that are democratic republics. Here is a short summary of how it works.

World Economic Forum
This is how Switzerland’s direct democracy works

Micol Lucchi | Swiss Public Affairs Specialist, World Economic Forum

Scott Adams — The Systems President

Interesting proposal. No spoiler.

The Scott Adams Blog
The Systems President

Scott Adams

Chris Dillow — For worker democracy

For me, EU referendum raised a question which nobody has so far asked, namely: if there was a case for a referendum, isn’t there a far stronger case for worker democracy?

Many of us were appalled by the atrocious standard of debate in the referendum. Robert Harris called the episode “the most depressing, divisive, duplicitous political event of my lifetime.” Perhaps Thatcher and Attlee were right: referendums are a “device of dictators and demagogues.”

Which brings me to the question. If you think the referendum was a good idea, you must surely think worker democracy is a far better one. I say so for three reasons:

Worker democracy would be either social democracy or democratic socialism, with government of, by and for the people.

Stumbling and Mumbling
For worker democracy
Chris Dillow | Investors Chronicle

Christian Science Monitor — Election 2012: Ballot initiatives reflect nation’s mood

Proponents call it "direct democracy," opponents call it "vigilante democracy" – and political scientists call it a vibrant part of American democracy.

On Nov. 6, voters in 37 states will decide 174 ballot propositions – the most since 2006, but well below the highs of the late 1990s and early 2000s, when voters were routinely considering more than 200 initiatives on Election Day.

The slate of 2012 initiatives points to several trends across American politics.

The Raw Story
Election 2012: Ballot initiatives reflect nation’s mood
The Christian Science Monitor