Politics

The basic idea of democracy is "rule of the people" although the reality is something completely different, as we all know. Every four years we are put in the awkward position of having to vote for the least awful candidate. And then when we elect them, they regularly break their promises. What we have in Canada is a democracy only in a formal sense.

In a humanist democracy, everyone would be freely able to elect and be elected as well. Nowadays, because money has taken over everything, the system is composed of a few big parties backed by a few big interests. And during the election, only those with big backing can really compete. In a real democracy, the media would offer every candidate equal time to present her views.

Once elected, our representatives would be subject to Laws of Political Responsibility that would hold them accountable to their campaign promises. Such a law could be enacted in order to recall an elected official who had broken her promises and who therefore had betrayed her constituency. To really open the decision-making process to the people, referenda would be held on important issues.

Of course, no referendum could overturn the human rights of any minority. In a real democracy, human rights would be guaranteed for all, and all minorities would have the representation that is their right.

For more ideas on Real Democracy, see the Document of the HM.