Direct Policy Voting: It’s time to prepare for it.

I’m sure you’ve noticed some of the disadvantages with having to vote for representatives in hopes they respect the kinds of policies you do. Politicians lying, selling out, breaking promises etc. are common problems. When a representative begins to represent corporations more than their constituents, you likely find yourself frustrated. You probably wish once a representative proves corrupt, that instead of waiting out their terms, you could just impeach them.

I’m here to remind you what democracy means, because you’ve heard many definitions that seem to be fluid and cryptic. You’ve heard it means a system of voting. You’ve heard it means that casting a vote is consent to the outcome, you’ve likely heard it’s both the rule of the people, and the means by which people voice preferences in how they will be governed.

Democracy is a group’s attempt to reach a consensus with all members, and when they cannot, reach a decision that the group feels is best for all people involved. It is not a polarized cult of hostility to force others to live in one of two dominant narratives regarding society. It is not an auction of competing bribes from lobbyists. It is not intended to be one’s only means of political self-defense against harmful policies. And if you remember only one thing from this; Democracy is NOT the process of asking permission to have human rights. You have them and your representatives seem to forget that fact, it’s time we remind them with some healthy boundaries.

Recently, the people of a country held their own vote on discord. They felt their government was corrupt and illegitimate and took democracy back into their own hands. The demanded their decisions be upheld, and the standing military honored their vote. The representatives they chose stepped into power. That country was Nepal. But you don’t have to be halfway across the world to experience a government that requires the consent of its people. You can do it here, locally, in your city.

It’s no secret that our current system of voting has been under seige. The vigilante voter suppression cases, the attempt to bar mail in ballots, (to effectively revoke the voting rights of ill, disabled and elderly), the fact that tech giants who own the machines have a biased preference and therefore a conflict of interest, the fact that powerful men have been suggesting the revocation of protections for women’s right to vote. A war criminal president bombing boats and trying to pick fights with civilians to suspend elections. Surely, I don’t have to convince you that the idea of a free and fair election in the US is in jeopardy. So make sure your town has one, just in case the traditional model fails to happen fairly.

Imagine this. You and everyone in your town, not only votes as usual, but also casts votes for policies suggested by the community. The results, would show you what policies your town truly supports. For example, say after the votes are tallied, you see that 71% of your town is in favor of free lunches in public schools. Say 68% want that building gone which is polluting the air quality of the city. Say 75% of people want a community center in town. If you know this, you know what the people of your town want. Beyond all the culture wars and narrative nonsense of news outlets, you would know exactly what your city is on the same page about. That resource alone, can hold pressure for your representatives to support that position. Not only is it a tool of solidarity to demand a higher standard from your mayor’s office, it can also be much more powerful.

With direct policy voting, your community, for the first time in your life, would be able to vote on city term limits, on impeachment apparatus, the penalties for your police when they are filmed committing a crime or violating rights. Your community could decide if your city allows or refuses a pipeline to go through. Your community could decide if a box store is allowed to be built within a certain proximity to the mom and pop shops of your town. Your community can determine sanctuary policies, whether to fund more public parks, whether the city will hire more public defenders, and whatever else your community values.

This does require that your boundaries are spoken with your chest, that these results will be respected by your representatives and city employees. Make it known what is expected of them, and what the community has decided regarding success and failure to realize those expectations.

It’s here that you might be feeling uneasy. But keep in mind, if the rug is pulled and fascists suspend elections, this will be the only vote you get. So you need to strategize how to get the largest amount of residents you can involved, and make it count. We’ll brainstorm more about this in the future.

Surely, there are reasons to be concerned about this idea of ‘democracy’ as resident rule over where they reside. The adage, “Democracy is when 12 wolves and 8 sheep vote on what’s for dinner.” is still a problem. There is still the ‘voting as an act of self defense’ issue. But there are precautions. One ground rule suggestion, when determining what policies are added to the direct policy ballot, would include, no policy can be added that would deprive civilians of human rights protections.

There’s also the problem with mass deception and other forms of manufactured consent. If the majority of your city believes something untrue about policy, it will negatively influence the vote. Thus, leading up to it all, each city will want to have discussions designed to seek truth and fact check narratives surrounding potential policies. however, those conversations, even when heated, are far more preferable than a tyrannical government.

You’ve been in an abusive relationship with politicians and corporate interests your entire life, why not have a wholesome relationship with your neighbors instead.