September 30 -- Host Reid Howell takes a look at “a fascinating and important new book,” Direct Democracy in Switzerland, in and interview with the author, AdTI Chairman Gregory Fossedal. Is this book a criticism of American democracy? "No," Fossedal began, “it's a description of a system with small but important differences that we can learn from. "There are improvements that we can make internally,” he added, including introduction of direct democracy at the federal level and in all states. These improvements would, “allow people to reach out and directly effect policy,” he continues, pointing out the direct hiring and firing of school teachers as just one instance of a direct democracy. But this is not an effort to question our own system, he said. "It is, in fact, the height of patriotism to suggest improvements and perfections in what we have -- a 'spirit of incessant activity' as Tocqueville called it -- something that is very American and very Swiss in nature." "Well, they do seem far ahead of us in some ways, such as civic activism, voting, education, taxes," Howell commented. "Even the environment. On the basis if your book, there's a lot we could learn." "That is exactly what I'm trying to say," Fossedal said. "We can learn from the world. This is part of America's role, to learn and adapt. We Americans don't always listen or study well, but we should." Howell suggested that direct democracy is “not a new idea, but an important one,” and wondered how or if the movement may or may not be relevant in America. Fossedal mentioned efforts to improve campaign finance, and such American leaders as M. Dane Waters, and Paul Jacobs, and their work to bring term limits to the American system, as just two examples of democratic reforms. "Dane Waters and Paul Jacobs are a leading reason for term limits in the U.S.," he noted. "Now they are encouraging efforts to expand and protect direct democracy as a logical extension." Indeed, a proposal in Maine this fall, to expand to other statesin 2003, would amend the constitution to mandate direct voter access to review and intiatve federal laws in the U.S. The effort, led by former Alaska Senator Gravel and his group, Philadelphia II, "has a fighting chance," Fossedal said. "It will sneak up on the elites just as McCain-Feingold, congressional salary caps, and other efforts did." "What would the Founding Fathers say about direct democracy?," Howell asked. "Well, they were nervous about all democracy, even representative, as is borne witness by their adoption of a mixed system," Fossedal said. "If you take their principles in 1787, however, and adapted them to present circumstances -- widespread learning, affluence, and most important, the ubiquity of low cost information -- they would be satisfied and gratified." “The people can never willfully betray their own interests,” Fossedal quoted from The Federalist. “but they may possibly be betrayed by the representatives of the people." "That's in The Federalist?," Howell asked. "That is a direct quotation from Federalist 63, sir," Fossedal said. "That is powerful," Howell said. "That is a powerful statement." "It's probably no accident," Fossedal concluded. "The Swiss played a role, directly and intellectually, in forming our constitution in 1787, and we did in theirs in 1848. Hence we have often been called the 'Sister Republics.' If we now take a page from the Swiss, and empower people with a direct vote on key laws and cosntitutional rules, it would not be a brand new collaboration -- but the extension of an old one that has grown richer over time. "As I say towards the end of the book, I believe it is possible that even we Americans can learn something from others." Keith Sheets |
