Interesting suggestions for “Rebooting Britain”

Just a quick post to draw your attention to a fasincating article by James Murray Wells which appears in Wired, the technology magazine.

James points out that our government is pretty useless when it comes to making use of technology to empower us as citizens before setting out four opportunities "that a technologically competent government must offer us in 2010". These are:

 1 Citizens' bills powered by the web

Anyone can propose a particular bill or piece of legislation. If enough signatories are gathered, it is automatically put to an online vote, and if carried, parliament is compelled to discuss it. There is no obligation for MPs to vote for or against the motion, but they are compelled to discuss and vote on the subject, guaranteeing that an issue that is popular cannot be ignored.

2 Blocking referendums

These function as reality checks on the personal ambitions of politicians, ensuring politics serves the long-term interests of the country rather than the short-term politics of an individual's career. After a third reading in Westminster, a bill is published online for seven days. During this period, anyone can attempt to raise a minimum threshold of 20,000 signatories online to block it. If there is no one blocking the bill, it is enacted in the normal way. However, if there are enough signatures, the House of Commons must agree a wording for an online referendum, which must attract a minimum percentage of the whole electorate. In Switzerland this is 2.5 per cent for the result to be binding. A bill that fails to gain public support automatically lapses. One that does gain public support commands much more authority than had it not been put to the public test.

3 Automatic referendums on constitutional change

This is a protection mechanism, so that any bill proposing constitutional change - such as increasing the length of terms of parliament, or federalising powers to Europe - would automatically, on the order of the Attorney General, be put to a referendum of the people.

4 Local referendums

Exactly the same online mechanisms could be translated for use at a local level, such as forcing items on to a council's agenda, or instigating a referendum on constitutional matters - for example, the merger of two authorities.

By making democracy something we do every day, James argues that changes like this will encourage a more informed and engaged citizenry capable of checking the power of government and unaccountable institutions like quangoes.

These kind of changes, which introduce "direct" democracy through the power of new technology, proved popular during the submissions phase of POWER2010's campaign.

But what do people think? Are there any drawbacks to this "quick-and-easy" way of doing politics?