Ushering in True Democracy

World True Democracy Platform

Objective:
To provide a global platform (web-based to start with) that enables people to usher in True Democracy through constitutional means.

The need for such a platform:
Through out the world, where Democracy is in vogue, we find that governments do not reflect truly the wishes of the people. In spite of elections being held and people casting their votes, the people are soon forgotten after the elections and other interests control the process of governance. Political parties have failed to provide people-centered governance. The candidates posted by political parties are bound to the party line of thinking and frequently lack integrity. An alternative method of electing our representatives, independent of political parties, is needed if the concept of Democracy is to retain its credibility.

How the platform would work:Step 1:The people who believe in the need for True Democracy can register on the WTDP giving their name/user name and the particular national/state/local electoral constituency to which they belong. They can express themselves on the forum regarding various issues pertaining to their constituency. Discussions on these issues will form the people's point of view that is seldom known in a free and fair manner in today's world, dominated by media controlled by business interests. To be effective, this Step 1 needs to be coupled with Step 2.
Step 2: The members registering on the WTDP can also indicate whether they would consider standing for election to represent their electoral constituency on behalf of the WTDP, if selected by a fair process. From a constituency having a population of, say, 100,000 if about 10,000 become members and if about 100 of these are willing to work as the elected representative of that constituency, then they can be subjected to the ‘Triad system’ of selection from which eventually one would be selected for contesting the election on behalf of the WTDP in that constituency.

The Triad System: [This was first conceived by Fred Gohlke, U.S.A.] If, as in the above example, 100 members indicate their willingness to represent their constituency, then they can be divided randomly into 33 ‘triads’ or ‘groups of 3 members’ on the WTDP and the results intimated. The same can be done manually on the ground where one of the members can take up the task of conducting the process. The selected triads can then communicate among themselves and subsequently meet in their constituency to evaluate each other. The small number of 3 facilitates better interaction among themselves.
After understanding the pros and cons of the other members of the group, each member of a triad is required to select one out of the other two (ignoring himself/herself). An objective, in-depth and selfless evaluation of each candidate with regard to his suitability is thus possible. The member who gets 2 votes gets selected and moves to the next round. It is possible that within a triad, all the 3 members may get one vote each or one of the members may decline to vote. In such situations, the members of that triad go back to the common pool from which they would be divided again into a fresh batch of triads and the result intimated for further action.

From 33 triads, as in the example cited above, 11 would be selected to move to the second round. The above process is repeated till finally one candidate is selected. The selection procedure can be programed to take place a few months before the scheduled elections in that particular constituency. Thus the best possible candidate with integrity and competence can contest the election on behalf of the WTDP.

The WTDP candidate:The candidates selected and contesting on behalf of the WTDP would be independents. If the WTDP candidate wins the election, the WTDP can continue to facilitate his interaction with the people of his constituency. He would be free from obligation towards any political party. By the very nature of his selection and subsequent election, impartial and people-oriented discharge of duty can be expected of him.

Alternative to Political Parties:The WTDP would thus provide a mechanism to elect the people’s representatives in an organized way, but without the drawbacks of the political parties. The people who are disenchanted with political parties would find the WTDP as a credible alternative. The constitutions of most democratic countries in the world today do not speak of political parties as being an absolute necessity. Political parties exist only as a working arrangement for ease of election and governance. Thus there is nothing against an alternative working arrangement like the WTDP from coming into being.



To consider whether Democratic Governance is possible without political parties visit: http://musingsonpartylessgovernance.blogspot.com/