Public policy vs public input
METUSALEM NEIB WRITES:
Parliaments consisting of, or properly advised by members of the public will allow greater and more active involvement in politics and build a more inclusive and democratic country.
This principle has to be made part of constitutions, human rights law and human rights regimes. Through such dialogue and debate the parliament will have more legitimacy through a greater public participation and true democracy.
Public discussion currently exits outside institutions of the country in which a range of views and opinions can be developed in relation to matters of public concern. The underlying condition is that this must and will guarantee universal access for all citizens.
In the public sphere it is hard to reach citizens with vague measures and plans they do not fully understand. Issues must properly discussed at meeting places where citizens can gather to collect information, debate ideas or voice their decent.
Is this however possible in bigger communities?
Such public negotiation will ensure relevance and will attract the public because it gives them true choices. Skills and competence can be used, and developed in this way, to the mutual benefit of all.
Public parliamentary forums need to be self–aware. They also need to be aware of others so they can assess if participation and debates represent the interests of all 14 regions of the country.
Constitutional democracy is grounded in accountability and at its core is linking governmental decisions to the public and citizens' interests and ensuring a country is ruled to the benefit of all rather than a few. Accountability comes with true representativeness.
The 14 region's governors and constituency councillors must be determined by the results of elections. Governors should not be chosen by the president or the ruling party.
Governors must be elected on the basis of their policy interests, output and accountability to voters and their reaction to what voters want. They can then be held accountable at the next election.
By changing power relations in a state, institutions can become more democratic. Public policy and decisions cannot ignore public interests, accountability and transparency.
Parliaments consisting of, or properly advised by members of the public will allow greater and more active involvement in politics and build a more inclusive and democratic country.
This principle has to be made part of constitutions, human rights law and human rights regimes. Through such dialogue and debate the parliament will have more legitimacy through a greater public participation and true democracy.
Public discussion currently exits outside institutions of the country in which a range of views and opinions can be developed in relation to matters of public concern. The underlying condition is that this must and will guarantee universal access for all citizens.
In the public sphere it is hard to reach citizens with vague measures and plans they do not fully understand. Issues must properly discussed at meeting places where citizens can gather to collect information, debate ideas or voice their decent.
Is this however possible in bigger communities?
Such public negotiation will ensure relevance and will attract the public because it gives them true choices. Skills and competence can be used, and developed in this way, to the mutual benefit of all.
Public parliamentary forums need to be self–aware. They also need to be aware of others so they can assess if participation and debates represent the interests of all 14 regions of the country.
Constitutional democracy is grounded in accountability and at its core is linking governmental decisions to the public and citizens' interests and ensuring a country is ruled to the benefit of all rather than a few. Accountability comes with true representativeness.
The 14 region's governors and constituency councillors must be determined by the results of elections. Governors should not be chosen by the president or the ruling party.
Governors must be elected on the basis of their policy interests, output and accountability to voters and their reaction to what voters want. They can then be held accountable at the next election.
By changing power relations in a state, institutions can become more democratic. Public policy and decisions cannot ignore public interests, accountability and transparency.
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