That would be nice, wouldn't it? However, that would mean that "the government" didn't do things under the table, behind closed door, at 5pm on a Friday before a holiday or when Congress was out of session..you know our "decider" always plays things (like running our country) close to the vest, in the dark of night, under the radar. Sure, I'd like a vote on policy..but it will never happen unless and until we have a leader who isn't afraid of scrutiny, telling the truth and being honorable. Until then, it is just so much blue smoke, bells and whistles! Hi, Sak..Happy Saturday! :) ((hugs))

That's a great question. Yes, I do think so.

Democracy comes in many forms and flavours. There are pros to the direct democracy you speak of however there are also cons. The obvious pro is "power to the people!" which sounds great in theory. Personally and speaking from a UK perspective I think it would take a radical shift in our society mainly through education. For example if people are going to start taking decisions on major economic issues they would need to know a hell of a lot more about the subject, most people in the UK have no idea what CPI, RPI or LIBOR etc are so would maybe not be best placed to make the decisions. We tend to divide labour in our systems and rely on experts to make decisions for us (e.g. we wouldn't do surgery by consensus of public opinion or there would be a great many dead patients). The key is that the people we elect to our positions of power might not be the best placed to make the necessary choices either. I like the phrase (can't remember whom) "anyone that seeks public office should by dint of that fact have automatically disqualified themselves". I don't think that opening the whole process up to continual referenda if necessarily the best solution however appealing it may seem. Whilst an individual person may be very smart and aware I also sort of agree that the mob tends to display many of the worst and little of the best qualities of the individuals that make it up. But it does have pros as well :)