RE: Democracy?

["Hegge, Roy" <Roy_Hegge@adc.com>]

Sure Greg, I am aware of the protections built into our system for the minor opinion.   I certainly am not advocating
that we eliminate that.  In fact, much of that is written into our Constitution and I am a very strong supporter of 
constitutional rights.   I would not go to the extreme of mob rule.   But I would like to see more direct accountability
for an elected representative to his/her constituents.

   For example, in Wisconsin (last year I believe it was), they had a vote on a new stadium.   It was a contested issue
and public opinion was pretty much against using tax dollars to support it.  It was a very close vote in their legislature 
and the deciding vote was cast by a representative from northern Wisconsin who had run on an anti-stadium platform.
His vote was in direct violation of the will of the people that had put him into office to represent them.   Wisconsin does
have recall, and this particular community was unified enough to recall their elected official and boot him out because
he no longer represented them.    If this same scenario happens in Minnesota, we have no recourse but to wait out the
official's term and hope that the citizens remember.   The same is true of our federal officials.   I would have liked to 
have seen a recall initiative for Congressman Ramstad after he voted on the articles of impeachment.   

This accountability does not mean mob rule.   We still must respect the laws of the land which protect all citizens, 
majority or minority.  But it would create a government more in tune with the populace.  Again, look at the opinion
polls across the nation and then look at the actions of Congress.  They are way out of step.  Recall might make 
our officials stick to business more and play political partisanship less.

As for my other suggestions,  referendum, open sessions, and better access to proposed bills and modifications,
these too would make government more accessible and accountable to the public.  

Roy

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Greg Peisert [SMTP:gpeisert@jamesgregory.com]
> Sent:	Thursday, February 04, 1999 11:20 PM
> To:	Multiple recipients of list NOPRIVACY
> Subject:	RE: Democracy?  
> 
> So, you would advocate a pluralist democracy, abandoning the notion of a 
> representative government? Are you aware of why the founders set things up 
> as they did, and of the problems throughout history with respect to the 
> tyranny of mob rule at the expense of the rights and liberties of 
> minorities?
> 
> -- Greg Peisert
> 
> 
> On Thursday, February 04, 1999 12:25 PM, Hegge, Roy 
> [SMTP:Roy_Hegge@adc.com] wrote:
> > How about referendum and recall?  I wish that we had these in Minnesota. 
>   How about something similar on a federal level.
> > How about no closed sessions for our elected officials?
> > How about really posting bills and proposed modfications to public places 
> (web sites) prior to consideration within Congress?
> >
> > A comment that I have heard from both Henry Hyde and Orrin Hatch (and I'm 
> sure others on the Hill) during this recent turmoil
> > goes something like this (I have to paraphrase because I cannot remember 
> the exact words) 'We are not here to be swayed by
> > public sentiment (the will of the people), we have a higher calling to 
> the law of the land.'  i.e. we are no longer representatives
> > but rather rulers.
> >
> > Roy Hegge
> >
> >