A few years ago, I accepted a commission to write a
sustainable development policy document for the little island nation of
During my all too brief time there (great climate and all
the fresh Blue Fin Tuna you can eat – Free – normally $75.00 per kilo in downtown
If I wanted to say something to the country’s politicians – I should at first teach the children and let them explain it to their parents and eventually a politician would get up in Parliament and say – “How about we……”
Senator Kate Lundy implemented today
Almost? Well I refer to the limitations of one of the feedback mediums used which is more suitable to “Look at Me – Grab a Headline” than real communication. But today was far from a failure. It is the first indications of real Democracy appearing in Australian Politics.
The Senator chaired the forum, but didn’t chastise, talk down, dismiss, censure or censor any of today’s contributors – even the ones that mentioned or discussed contentious issues.
She allowed the conjecture, facts, presentations and opinions to be made – purely for the public commentary that is sure to follow in the next week.
And that is a first for Australian Politics.
I am not a political writer. I don’t know political left from right – and have no lobbying agenda of favours that I could wangle from Kate Lundy for myself or my employer.
Maybe that’s the problem. I don’t have a purchase price point.
I have for many years expressed my opinion without regard to the consequences. That makes me a person of interest for some political parties; as my ASIC experiences in 2002 would confirm to the politically knowledgeable.
What Kate Lundy today achieved was to take Australia from the “Shit don’t ask the Public – they have no idea of what’s good for them” – Yes Minister politics that we are so used to being on the receiving end of and re-written the rule-book.
Do I have reservations about the technology used? Yes.
Do I have suggestions? Yes
Do I want to see more of what I witnessed today? Hell yes!
Now our only job is to teach the parents – and some of them are our Politicians.
It might take years – hell it might take a whole Generation – but eventually – once the baby-boomers and (most) X Generation have left the political arena we might actually have Democracy.
Why ?
Because the new kids on the block grew up with the internet. They understand the power of social networking – they understand the power of feedback and group consensus.
They didn’t have the Cold War. They didn’t have
FUD just doesn’t work with these new kids on the block. That’s why they will be able to create what we as a world have failed because of corporate self serving, profit generating FUD – Democracy.
Thank-you Kate Lundy – A true Democrat.
(Ummmm, yes I know ….. but forget political parties for the moment – think of the process – I know it’s hard – we have never had it before; a Government that asks for our opinion – Shotgun Referendums don’t count, they are rigged based on polls).
