RAJ SUBRAMANIAN
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE -BOTANY CONSTITUENCY - NEW ZEALAND
JOIN HANDS FOR GETTING ABSOLUTE GOVERNING POWERS BACK INTO THE HANDS OF CITIZENS
FOR E-DEMOCRACY FOR E-DISCUSSION FOR E-VOTING FOR E-POLLING
Link:What Expert Says about E-Democracy
E-DEMOCRACY AND E-VOTING BY Botany Electorate Independent Candidate Raj Subramanian(Please click for voice version of this by Anna )
My dear voters don’t give away your votes for 3 long years, when you can use it like Bank ATM Card every day. It is true we the citizens are the no. 1 bank account for the entire electoral system. But we don’t know how to use it for everyday use. Rather we are trained to give the power to a non-flexible party abiding politician, who can only use it for Party purposes and try to convert the country into yes-people of their party policies. Party and vogue political philosophies and representative Governments have taken us to bankruptcy as we are seeing with empty treasuries all over the world. Do you want to continue with the same old systems or want to govern the country by very simple systems which are totally controlled by you?
First of all I believe in people first. Whatever Politicians project themselves into, it is the knowledge and hard work of our people which are superior to any authorities.
My concern in the present political system of not only our Country, but major advanced Countries is that of neglect of people’s voices after the elections.
For example: “What happened in “Anti-Smacking” law is - people’s opinions were neglected; rulers childhood dreams were enacted. Do we have any say in the Legislation? Yes theoretically.
We can have referendum. But still the referendum is not binding on the Parliament.
Your Views on Leaders Debate hosted by Campbell Live: I have re-written my dictionary after watching. |
So whichever party comes to power, they take our votes and when go to the Parliament they work for their parties, rather than for us, the common people, their real bosses.
What is New About Direct Democracy and why E-Democracy |
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Links: Direct Democracy World E-Voting initiatives - See how New Zealand can do better |
When they come back to us after 3 years, we have to choose between the lesser evil. In this scenario, when can we choose the best and make them continuously abide by our voices?
I have been researching for an answer all these years. In the last election I found an answer. EPoll on all legislations is the answer, combined with Epolling for the General and Local Elections.
I stood in the Manukau East Constituencyin 2005 with that plea to the voters. At that time my voice was among very few. Now this view is gaining momentum not only in our country.
But also in many western nations, especially when such Big bang decisions are taken by ruling elite,emptying trillions of dollars of tax payers money.
I presented my paper at Derrida Today Conference at Macquarie University, Sydney, where elite Professors of Philosophy from all over the world gathered.
The individual citizens have unique characteristics, they have great powers and knowledge. But a collective system for the convenience of Rulers make them common people.
It makes them lose their own identity. How to avoid that? When can the best in each and every person be brought out?
We have a system where citizens are told what is right and what is wrong by few rulers. We give them mandate to do that for 3 years.
What if people, as bosses of the Democratic Government, are empowered to say what is right and what is wrong of the rulers on a routine basis?
I have my own opinions, policies, and programmes for the people. But I feel it is not that way. I am just a drop in the ocean of the knowledge of my electorates.
If I were to believe my electorates, I should admit that they are the most knowledgeable, because they get everything first hand. The Government acts only retrospectively.
A democracy is supposed to be run collectively by citizens. The whole democratic political philosophy and systems were adjusted because direct participation of people was not possible.
I don’t think knowledge on the affairs of the nation was one of the limiting reasons. The limiting factors were time and space.
People can’t go and discuss or vote on every legislation because parliament is in a fixed place. Even the referendum is a very difficult process because of this reason. Just count on the referendums we have had in this country; very few.
For lack of space and time I make it precise:
I want to make e-polling/e-voting on every legislation and major decisions of Government mandatory. This will be the basis of e-governance and e-democracy. We have the technology even today. But there is no will on the part of the Members of Parliament.
You must have seen the New Zealand Herald Article on 22-9-2008 Internet stuck with a vote of no confidence. According to the Chief Electoral Office's suggested timetable, the first trial of voting using the internet isn't likely until the 2014 general election. Further trials are recommended for at least the following two general elections before internet voting is made widely available in 2023 at the soonest.This is just about internet voting for General Elections. What I talk about is internet voting on all issues in Parliament. If it is left to the officers, then it won’t come in this generation. My friends,there is no political will as the Political parties will be affected by these changes.Where is the solution?
I take it head-on. If elected I will create an e-voting platform for my constituency as a role model for others to follow. My constituents can vote on every issue in parliament through internet. I will reflect the majority opinion of my electorates in Parliament in every legislation. I will not impose my will. The collective will of my voters will be my decision in Parliament.
So, this is a chance for you “Botany Electorates” to Change the power equations from Politicians to people.
You can be a role model to the entire country.
You can lead the entire world. OR you can be just the same voters caught between two big-powers without alternatives, waiting for them to change your life. The decision is yours. Your decision will affect your children, your community and your future generations, forever. If you made the right decision, and vote me as Independent M.P. you have shown the right direction to the future generations to move forward.Thanks in advance for your wise decision that is the gift you are giving to the future generations.
