So, using this new scientific method, I have made some predictions of my own:
The EU Propaganda Minister has now updated her Blog to cover yesterday’s announcement of a further Plan D initiative.
From the measures undertaken so far with Plan D and the measures intended with this new proposal one can safely conclude that all them are propaganda initiatives.
But according the spin Plan D was regarded it as a starting point for a long term democratic reform process.
The Commissioner says - The Plan D projects have confirmed for me what I already felt to be true: when they are consulted on complex political issues citizens will not only respond – they will demand more. Plan D has shown that European democracy should and could be founded on an active European citizenship. There is clear demand for measures to strengthen and expand political dialogue on European issues. It is clear that deliberative and participatory democracy can usefully supplement representative democracy.
It would seem then that EU Democracy is going to be developed along the lines of deliberative democracy and deliberative polling, which the EU calls participatory democracy.
Deliberation has long been considered an essential component of genuine democracy.
deliberative democracy is rooted in the ideal of self-governance in which political truths emerge not from the clash of pre-established interests and preferences but from reasoned discussion about issues involving the common good. In a representative democracy this would entail an ongoing open debate with our representatives on policy matters rather than just leaving it to their individual preferences, the policies would evolve not from the party machines but from a public debate.
Unfortunately within the EU context this means an initial acceptance of the undemocratic methods so far employed to create the European Union, and turning a blind eye to the fact that the institution would not exists in the first places had we the choice in the matter.
If one takes a step back it is easy to see why the EU is so keen on the idea of a deliberative democracy; its debates are easy to control from the centre, it will set the agenda for debate, it will control the forum for debate, only those issues desired will be debated and it creates the semblance of democracy without ever having to actually face the voters. Thus leaving the decision up to the technocratic centre on whether to implement any of the proposals emanating from a debate.
The power at all times remains within the control of the centre.
Deliberative Democracy implies that citizens would be allowed the chance to take the reins of state. however, in reality it is an illusion.
William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, wrote in 1693:
Let the people think they govern, and they will be governed.”
Taking a … random sample of the electorate and transporting these people … to a single place. Immerse the sample in the issues, with carefully balanced briefing materials, with intensive discussions in small groups, and with the chance to question competing experts and politicians. At the end of several days of working through the issues face to face, poll the participants in detail. The resulting survey offers a representation of the considered judgments of the public.
So essentially it is polling after a period of attitude adjustment because the EU will only offer a balanced view from an EU perspective.
Unless there is a way to curb and control politicians within a system then all the talk in the world will not make it democratic. Deliberative democracy and deliberative polling aims to pacify citizens, not leash politicians.
Being permitted to talk about politics is no substitute for genuine democracy being permitted to vote when your vote can be ignored is no substitute for democracy, and that is all the EU is offering a substitute for democracy.
Technorati Tags:
Democracy, Plan D, genuine democracy, deliberative democracy
The opponents of party democracy
A comment on this blog has prompted me to argue against an EU wide referendum on the EU treaty, or anything else for that matter.
The EU treaty is called a treaty because it is an international agreement made between the member states, who are exercising their sovereign power.
The fact that EU treaties create a constitution of the EU and any debate about the ramifications following from the powers given to EU on our national constitution, are immaterial to the fact that calling for a referendum on a treaty from the body that is the recipient of the pooled powers, is both a waste of time and self defeating.
In the first place whether we are allowed a referendum is nothing to do with the European Union, a point confirmed more than once by the EU Propaganda Minister herself on her blog;
No doubt some readers will once again demand referenda but as I have said before that is a matter for each Member State.
Understanding that the EU is part of the decision making process when it comes to the treaties, but I would argue that they are overstepping their powers by interfering in these matters. And I would agree that the Propaganda Minister is being only legally correct when she makes her claim. As she is ignoring the interference emanating from the EU commission and the EU parliament. The EU Parliament for instance, was the first parliament to vote on and accept the EU constitution, just to get the propaganda ball rolling, they did this even though that parliament’s vote on the treaty has no relevance at all.
I recognise that that is a voice calling in the wilderness, because the EU Commission and the EU parliament are some of the main movers in the demands for more power to be invested in the EU, and the retention of the powers it already has. I know that the IGC of the heads of member states, is being conflated in the minds of many, with the Council of the European Union, and that the Council decided the details of the Lisbon treaty and mandated the IGC to agree those terms without change.
But in reality the EU itself has no legal power to force the member states to agree to anything relative to which powers they delegate to the EU. As those powers are delegated from the member state, it is a matter for internal debate and decision within the state.
So it is entirely a waste of time to build an EU wide pressure group in order to influence the EU on its constitution.
But worse than being a waste, it plays right into the hands of the federalists and helps them assuage their own desperation for a popular mandate. That is exactly what they need and all they will need to back their claim, that they have a popular mandate.
Because if the people can be persuaded to approach the EU that would be a tactic admission that we accept the EU as our government, that we accept that the EU has the right to speak for us to our own governments! we would be gifting the EU with its popular mandate.
That is why the EU Propaganda minister dismisses referenda within the nation state as being only a nationalist expression, but sees the possibility of an EU wide referenda having some benefit. The only benefit of an EU wide referendum or even individual state referenda all held at the same time, is to create a propaganda coup for the EU.
Now if you want a referendum in this country then I am behind you every step of the way.
Technorati Tags:
EU Commission, EU Ministry for Propaganda, EU Parliament, EU treaty, referendum
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