2016-05-15
The GI Editors
Welcome to the April 2016 edition of Green Issue which takes on the issue of Democracy. “About time” we hear you say. Point taken: Democracy (of the participatory kind) is one of our four foundation pillars, yet Green Issue has never made it a major focus – certainly not in the last ten years.
Interesting thing, time. Many Greens have pointed out that March 2016 wasnt the most convenient time to support the Senate Voting Reform Bill, with its connotations of Turnbulls manoeuvring to rush to a DD election in which he hopes to wipe out the pesky cross-benchers. But were focused on outcomes: Senate Voting Reform has been our policy for over a decade, and if not now, then when will the next opportunity arise? The good outcome stands and the timing - the political infighting over who immediately benefits - is irrelevant. Dinny Laurence presents the case for the new voting system (and also contributes an article on “egg democracy.”)
The time is also right with regard to our Greens critique of Neoliberalism and Inequality and their adverse impact on the health of our democracy. Apologists for the status quo argue that unfettered free markets and the democratic freedom to choose who governs us are a perfect match, a marriage made in heaven. By contrast we regard them as utterly incompatible partners: the failed marriage of an economic system that implies rule by the few (famously the 1%) to a political system established explicitly to ensure rule by the many. The recently released Panama Papers brought into full public view the extent to which inequalities of wealth and power conflict with and have corrupted the democratic political system so that the 1% have far too much influence on political decision-making.
Of course, while The Greens fully endorse the criticisms of wealth destroying representative democracy, our core belief is that even a well-functioning representative democracy is inadequate: participatory democracy is what matters. In this edition, there are two case studies of successful participatory democracy in action at local government level. On the other hand, Arran Morton takes issue with the decision to hold a plebiscite on Marriage Equality – something that some would say is an exercise in participatory democracy.
Just about my favourite political moment from 2015 came from Canada. When Justin Trudeau was asked why there were so many women in his new cabinet, he simply shrugged his shoulders and replied: “Because its 2015” – aka its long overdue, get used to it. Id have liked more in this Green Issue on how we must strengthen our democracy by ensuring under-represented groups (women, above all) are fully involved. Id also have liked something on workplace democracy and on The Greens policies on a fairer method of electing lower house MPs. Important themes for a follow up edition on Democracy, and fairly soon. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy and get value from what people have offered this time.
Finally, the editors have decided that the time is right to reshape Green Issue along the lines of The Australian Greens Magazine. Many thanks to Pete Condon for his techno advice and to Niloufer Johansen for image formatting. The timing was strongly influenced by the decision of Craig Chappelle to declare time on his wonderful years of service in the design and layout of Green Issue. From all the editors and readers: many thanks Craig.
With this new online format we are stepping into the unknown in a trial-and-error mode. As yet undetected shortcomings, and outright mistakes, are inevitable and so we request your forbearance and feedback to guide improvement into the future.