“POWER TO the people” used to be a slogan of 60s campus radicals like Dave _ Zirnhelt and Mike Harcourt -before they graduated to real estate and politics. By Douglas Broome Contributing Writer ! oa And power to the people is the rationale behind the instruments of direct, democracy — recall, initia- tive and referendum. After all, of government rests upon the consent of the governed and who better than the governed to give their direct assent to legislation. “Prior to the last provincial elec- _tion the Socreds were casting about for an issue, any issue, that could save their hides. So they brought in . # ballot question on direct democ- racy, a question that won the sup- port of an unusual 80% of the vot- ers. . The Socreds weren't able to © turn referenda into a partisan issue, though, because they didn't reckon with Elastic Man, Mike Harcourt, a : politician who can stretch himself around 16 sides of any issue. ~The only problem with the direct democracy proposals was - that they didn’t go far enough, huffed Harcourt, who knows how ‘to say ‘what that latest polis tell hira tosay. - -.. Well, that was then: this is now. Our political crooners are forever changing their tunes after elections. Out goes the upbeal campaign libretto and in comes the real score. The problem with giving power to the people is that it takes power away from the politicians, and for all their bafflegab about cilizen empowerment, Canadian politicians aren't too keen about giving up one ounce of their power over us. Alter all, giving up power to the people can have unexpected con quences for the politica elites, consequences like the defeat of the Charlottetown constitutional accord. Never mind that the referendum debates caused Canadians to think deeply about the nature of our: country. Never mind that SUppos- edly apathetic ordinary citizens became knowledgeable about that great bore. the Constitution. ‘Never mind that the debates were a high poini of our national life. The result went aginst the nearly unanimous advice of the grandees, so thal was cnough of the citizen empowerment nonsense. We live in what's supposed to be a representative democracy where we elect people to represent _us in Victoria and Ottawa. The great 18th-century British parliamentarian Edmund Burke told the electors of Bristol he owed fees up nek te trail Dear Editor: |. ‘Itthas been brought to my attention by a North Vancouver .City. citizen that students of St. -Thomas Aquinas high school “have. done a splendid job clean- “ing-up litter on the Centennial Trail, which is part of Mahon Park. ‘ So often we hear only about. « the troubles youths get into, so it “ is.encouraging to'me to hear of ‘teens being involved i in positive actions. *T commend all who participat- ed in this ambitious clean up. It is always gratifying to learn of such willing and able coopera- tion by our young citizens who obviously take pride in our com- munity. Please accept my congratula- tio ns on a job well done! J. E. Loucks’ “Mayor, North Vancouver City Sex changes or education? : Dear Editor: . “Now, NDP Goverament cof ‘British Columbia. where are your priorities? “The provincial government has spent $9,175 for a transsexual to _ have a sex change when our educa- tion system is being cut to the bone. You choose: funding for our chil- dren’s education or sex changes for transsexuals. Ginette Milos North Vancouver HUGE SAVINGS ON + Antiques + Crystals | * Furniture « Pianos « Violins « Jewellery & Much Much More ie them his best judgment, and that's the theory underlying parliamen- lary democrucy. Bat the reality is far different from the theary. 66 The problem with giving power to the people pl is that it takes power away from the politicians ...99 The job of MPs and MLAs is not lo exercise their best judgment on behalf of their constituents. Their job is to give blind obedience &§ to the parly whip and vote the party line on all matters. Dissenters area’t tolerated, As far as their independence of judg- ment is concerned, our representa- tives might as well be brain-dead. “Nobodies” is the way Pierre Trudeau described backbenchers.” “Trained seals” say others. (Harcourt promised more free , voles and independence Sor legisla- tive committees, but that was fust more of Mikey and his promises.) The theory: of parliamentary democracy also says power is dis- persed though the cabinet and the caucus, with the premier being merely the first among equais. 1OCrAC In reality, all power emanates from the prime minister or the pre- tier, who alors, at his absolute discretion, can reward and punish. promote and hold back, propose and veto. The reality is that we live in what is perilous- ly close to an elective dictatorship, And that is why peo- Y are demanding new ways of doing politics, including direct democ- racy. i Switzerland is one of the most best-governed democracies in the | world: so boringly sta- ble that almost no one can name the Swiss presideat. Direct democ- racy is the key to success, On the petition of 50,000 voters (25,000 in proportionate B.C. terms) any government legislation must be placed before the people tor direct approval. “And the signatures of 10G,000 citizens can-cause a constitutional amendment to be placed before the people. The Swiss have made steady use of the referendum, most recent- ly on Feb, 20, when they voted to ban foreign long-haul trucks from moving cargo on Swiss highways. In Canada, we have a form of direct democracy al the municipal level in the form of spending ; _ plebiscites. ; Although the provincial govern- ment can’t control its own spend- ing, it requires local councils to win approval irom the voters hefore they can borrow money for capitel expenditures. Aad the vot- ers have generally been wise in saying “yes” to necessary Spend- ing. In the small city of Rossland, spending on infrastructure has dou- bled since the council adopted direct democracy. Some opponents of direct democracy believe that citizens are too ignorant to be untrusted with complex issues. “Learning wilt be into ihe mire and trodden down under the hoofs of a swinish multitude,” is the way . Burke phrased the argument. Well, excuse me, but ouz repre- semlatives in Victoria and Ottawa > ire hardly a collection of Olympian; geniuses. A recent poll found that only 4% of Canadians have a “great deal” of respect for politi- citns versus 11% who have high respect for lawyers and 15% for - journalists. When polilicians are four times less popular than jour- nalists, maybe they should change the way they go about their bust . NESS, Harcourt has no choice but to bring in meaningful referendum _ legislation. If he fails to do so, he will be showing open contempt for the 80% of British Columbians who voted “yes” to direct democra- . cy in 1991, Power to the people, : indeed. - Nic ice to find nice folks in this world, too. Déar Editor: “May | extend my sincere thanks to the kind gentleman who came to my assistance on Thursday, April 212°. . I was having car trouble at the” intersection of Bellevue and 15th Street in West Vancouver. While CHOOSE FROM 3 AVAILABLE CARS EXAMPLE: ‘94 320i FULLY EQUIPPED INCLUDING STATE OF THE ART 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC WHITE / GREY INTERIOR SAC (% MONTH LEASE, $3000 DOWN, $12,900 RESIDUAL, TP. $26,952 OFFER EXPIRES MAY 33, 1994 STK #129 Park Shore Motors Ltd. trying to push my car off the road, . this kind gentleman assisted me and offered to give me a lift somewhere if } needed it. . This was not needed, but his help in parking the car certainly was! I'm only sorry | didn’t get his 1500 FELL AVENUE, 985-9344 NORTH VAN name to thank him personally in. this letter. : -You.read and hear about’so a many awful things going on:these days that it’s stice to encounter nice, nice people also. wee Maureen Tiittle "West Vancouver. THE ULTIMATE DRIVING EXPERIENCE.