lpc1998's Home

Original Posting: New Political System for the Information Age Draft #05

In response to: NPS drafting does need lots of help from experienced and knowledgeable people - [lpc1998]
Sunday, 27 June 2004 23:30 Singapore

Bullet-proof pants needed
Email: Sun, 27 Jun 2004 22:23:59 -0700

<snip>

[Bernard Clayson]:

“Did not succeed, but I have leaned a lot in the process, not least of which is the 'people', getting any sort of cohesion going is truly like 'herding cats'.”

[lpc1998]:

“Yes, you are right. The ‘people’ is the weakest link in the NPS too. That is why in the NPS, voter education is considered to be of paramount importance. This is a huge area for thought and discussion and I hope that there would be opportunity some (time) in the future to discuss this with you.”
Start when you like, and as you may have noticed, I have joined your group, do you wish to discuss it through that group?

[Bernard Clayson]:

“Before I forget, Jiri Polak publishes a hard-copy of WDD Newsletter, I offered to publish it on one of my sites, to which he agreed, his articles are the leader to all his newsletters, followed by extracts from around the world (how he does it amazes me).”

[lpc1998]:

“From the little I have read of his articles, he appears to be not only an original thinker, but also a master of words and has the courage to tell the truth as he knows it. I shall one day invite him to comment on the NPS too.”
If you want a 'bit' of publicity just let me know, I'll post your site on several of the political groups, you'll need bullet-proof pants though<grin>, it goes with the political territory.

[Bernard Clayson]:

“1)I would suggest you reduce the size of the flow-chart, it's difficult to get the over-all picture whilst shifting the screen to see the composite pieces.”

[lpc1998]:

“Thank you for your suggestion. This problem arises from the conversion from the doc.file to html. And the editing of the html to correct it would take an enormous amount of time, and I have yet to figure out a better way of correcting the problem. In the meantime, if you close all the side windows on the screen such as ‘Favourite’, the flow-chart can be seen in one screen without having to scroll left or right.”
I use a graph package to create a gif file, create a table and import the gif file in the table.
That way you can size it to suit all screen sizes (which is the problem with not seeing all in one go).

[Bernard Clayson]:

“2) Caution with using the internet for voting etc. I thought that ...... until I looked in to the subject, it's so full of holes that it does not hold water. Like a lot of things, it would be OK 'when' everything else is in place, but not until then.”

[lpc1998]:

“You are right again. For this reason, the NPS has retained voting at the polling station with a signed hard copy for the ballot box. See the voting procedures for the citizens’ initiative as an example.”
I noticed you have -

'Not later than the 13th day following the citizens’ initiative announcement, the Election Commission shall finalize a list of issues which have obtained endorsements of not less than 25% of the qualified voters.'

Two points -

  1. Election Commission is civil servants, what would happen if an aspect of an issue was against their best interest i.e. cut the bueaucrats numbers, or reduce their pensions to come in line with everyone in the private sector. How would you know the numbers had not been manipulated.
    I have taken a different line on this, democracy is government of the people, by the people, so the public have a committee that investigate public comments to present them as a 'for' and 'against' so the people can then judge on all opions. (more detail if you want it)

  2. 'not less than 25% of endorsements', don't overlook the fact that the 1% may have understood the potential consequences in x years time.

    <snip>

    [Bernard Clayson]:

    “..... Politicians are the least of the problem, in reality they are only there for the people to throw abuse at i.e. take the blame.”

    [lpc1998]:

    “Here I must disagree with you. Hmm … this is a view of the politicians. Politicians who aspire to be national, state or community leaders must provide leadership to both the people and the civil service, the later the more so as it is not only under their control, but also their responsibility.”
    I thought you would say that, which is why I mentioned it<grin>
    I am not saying it is all the civil servants fault, often it is the lack of man-management skills of the politicians.
    Try looking at it this way - the civil servants are the middle management and workers of a factory i.e. the professionals, every four years the company directors are changed i.e. another load of amateurs, first they have pecking order established (who is really the boss), then they have the options of the shop floor -
    1. Advise them on the potential problems and costs etc. if that fails -

    2. Do exactly what they are told (and make sure everyone knows who told them to do it)

    3. Do it badly, bad quality products i.e. make sure the most vunerable of society is hit first.

    Civil servants know who is running the country, and they know how to manipulate the system because the system is them. 

    [Bernard Clayson]:

    “4) Politics is about perceptions, be careful of getting to locked in to your perception without judging it from others perspective.”

    [lpc1998]:

    “Fully agree with you. That is why the NPS discussion here is presented as a 'Draft' for consideration, amendments or additions by the readers or participants. The final version at the end of the NPS journey could be very different from its first version.”
    Right attitude, I like it.

    [Bernard Clayson]:

    “5) I try to keep to a simple maxim KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid), never achieve it but do try, it always runs in to conflict with not explaining enough, and verbose which switches people concentration off.”

    [lpc1998]:

    “A simple maxim may be useful generally, but there are times when the situations require responses that are appropriate to the circumstances.”
    Three others to keep in mind:

    1. Don't re-invent the wheel just because you have a puncture (use what works and adjust those that don't)
    2. 7 P's (Piss Poor Planning Produces Piss Poor Performance)
    3. When you are in a hole - STOP digging.

    So far, you are doing OK.

    [Bernard Clayson]:

    “Good luck, and contact me if I can help in any way.”

    <snip>

    [lpc1998]:

    “There is one thing I would like to ask you. NPS-UK as proposed by you is constituency-based: Members of Parliament, local officials, councilors, etc represent the constituencies that elect them. In the circumstances, aren’t they accountable first to their constituents and for their interests above everything and everyone else? Isn’t this parochial and the encouragement of parochialism? ”
    They can only vote on the power of the constituencies opinion (unless they have delegated powers) even then those decisions are logged for the public to judge by, on top of that, every representative (right up to the Prime Minister) can be repremanded/withdrawn by the community that proposed him/her. Move locality and they have to start again (reminder of their origins).
    Every individual in the system has a deputy i.e. continuous government.

    Regards
    Bernard Clayson
    PLANET-THANET

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