One hub, 24 spokes -
25 common-sense steps to give the UK a modern, responsive, political system
Fair Voting (proportional representation) is the most important single aspect – it is the hub of the wheel of reform, the other 24 are spokes.
1 Establish 'fair voting' – at all levels - make everyone's vote count, not just a fifth of the voters - government based on such a minority is an obscenity. This is the hub of the 're-form wheel'. If real democracy doesn't work we can always go back to what we've got now – the exploitation of the many by the few.
2 Centre on issues-based politics rather than out-dated ideologies – enable continuous cross-party coalitions in national interest.
3 Massively reduce 'tribal politics'- demand cross-party issues-based co-operation. 'Tribal politics' - Labour followed by Tories followed by Labour etc. - is a great curse not least because it perpetuates the class-system, (and the need to hate fellow citizens?).
4 Enable more 'Independents' - we need more voices like Martin Bell.
5 Accelerate fair representation - nothing less than 50% women is acceptable. Ensure other forms of fair representation.
6 Demand 'facts before opinions' - getting objective facts to the electorate, as well as to MPs, is vital to help us see through the endless smoke-screens of vested interest. Balance values and beliefs with science & research – at all levels.
*7 Co-operate more - from grass-roots to party leaders.
8 Make MPs rewards fair, open & clear - separate running costs from salary! Build or acquire London flats & stop profiteering.
9 Make bottom-up politics as strong as top-down politics – and connect local, regional and national election processes - involvement starts at street level, people need to feel that their efforts, as well as their votes, count.
10 Focus on fairness, social justice and quality of life for all stake-holders – the middle-class as well as the poor have been progressively disadvantaged in favour of the mega-rich over the last few decades. Reverse the exploitation by the rich top 10%.
11 Massively reduce central government - devise broad-policy and demand that County Councils and other agencies find the means from inter-national best-practice to achieve set standards.
12 Maximise free voting & secret ballots - at all levels in the political system not just Parliament.
13 Habitually import best practice from across the world – start with New Zealand and Australia, Germany.
14 Create a simple written constitution – do it within 1 year and the spend 5 years refining it – make it genuinely consultative with all stake-holders.
15 Act more and talk less - encourage new and green jobs at every level. Eliminate waste - Stop faffing about! Stop re-inventing the wheel – some needs are permanent – e.g. the Youth Service, the elderly, apprenticeships. Continuous re-structuring is massively destruction c.f clear, ongoing, broad policy + devolution + 'best from abroad' + straight-forward standards and accountability.
16 Continue beefing up transparency in accountability – at all levels - I want to know what they are up to and why – I want dialogue.
17 Sack or punish seriously ‘deviant’ MPs – but certainly not for matters of conscience.
18 Make voting compulsory - it's a duty as well as a privilege & it was won by pain & sacrifice. It'll help stop the whingers.
19 Bring in fixed-term elections & reform political funding - stop all funding of parties - except a small amount for each vote cast in previous election, from general taxation.
20 Re-balance power relationships – strengthen Parliament & improve the independence and the accountability and efficiency of the civil service - make their accountability to select committees & to the public.
21 Support MPs appropriately - not just a matter of salaries, not just a matter of party politics, but accountability & effective communication will help reverse public's negativity. So will personal & party integrity. Celebrate all the good work MPs/Lords do.
22 Institute Primaries in all elections – stop central offices from parachuting in & imposing their favourites.
23 Reform the House of Lords - but not as a mirror-image of whipped party-based, professional-politician-based Commons. Democratically create a collegiate system representative of all main aspects of UK society.
24 Encourage positive interest in, & involvement in, political process – integrate democratic process in education, encourage all media to do a better job (e.g annual prizes) and demand educating in depth instead of empty 'Daily Mail' posturing & negativity. Shake up the BBC. Limit the likes of Rupert Murdoch. Set higher standards for all media. Use new media positively.
25 Demand that politicians have the courage to take long-term views – short-termism is at the root of many problems. Admit mistakes quickly e.g. we need to re-develop part of our manufacturing base & food-production – the world has changed.
Ver 2 - 20th Jan 2010
Which organizations can help us work toward the re-formation of our corrupt political system?
Through the organizations listed here you and I, can take step-by-step action to start the process of positive change. They are helping us all to act - "Yes we can!
Here are some of the main ones;
ACTIVIST GROUPS -DEMAND FAIR VOTING' - the No. 1 Need - the key reform 'Fair Voting' (Proportional Representation)MakeMyVoteCount - working to get fair voting in the UK and England the No. 1 need - http://www.makemyvotecount.org.uk/news.html
Electoral Reform Society - http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/ - SEE ALSO http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_reform
Activist Groups - served by www.mySociety.org
http://www.mysociety.org/projects/MySociety - charity that provides the sites for some of the orgs listed here below - http://www.mysociety.org/
PledgeBank
No 10 Downing Street Petitions Website
FixMyStreet
WhatDoTheyKnow
FreeOurBills
TheyWorkForYou
Hear From Your MPBeta
GroupsNearYou - http://www.groupsnearyou.com/
PoliticsHome - http://www.politicshome.com/
Epolitix - http://www.epolitix.com/
Politics.co.uk - http://www.politics.co.uk/
Hansard Society - http://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/
UK Parliament - http://www.parliament.uk/HOLDING MPs TO ACCOUNT
WriteToThem
Hear from your MP - http://www.hearfromyourmp.com/
TheyWorkForYou - http://www.theyworkforyou.com/ Our Kingdom (open democracy) - http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom
Magna Carta 2.0 - http://www.modernliberty.net/2009/time-for-magna-carta-20 DISCUSSION FORUM/s
BritishDemocracyForum - http://www.democracyforum.co.uk/forum.phpMARGINALS LISTS ETC
JustSolutions - http://www.justsolutions.eu/marginals/startmarginals.html - brilliant piece of work to help us know which seats are marginal and by how many votes
UNDER-REPRESENTED POLITICAL PARTIES CHEATED BY THE CURRENT SYSTEM
Green Party - what they stand for - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Pillars_of_the_Green_Party (Good starting point for generating some new thinking)
Liberal Democrats - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_DemocratsDEMAND FAIR VOTING' - the No. 1 Need - the key reform 'Fair Voting' (Proportional Representation)
MakeMyVoteCount - working to get fair voting in the UK and England the No. 1 need - http://www.makemyvotecount.org.uk/news.html
Electoral Reform Society - http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/ - SEE ALSO http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_reform
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