The People's Gathering: Discussing Scotland's Democracy

[DemocracyDiva]

Calling Scottish members of Mumsnet!

The Electoral Reform Society in Scotland is looking for people from across Scotland to join a unique gathering at the Merchant's Hall in Edinburgh. On Saturday 14th July, The People's Gathering will bring together 129 Members of the Scottish Public to share and debate their views on our democracy.

The referendum debate provides us with the opportunity to challenge and change aspects of our political systems that don?t work. We know what the pundits, newspaper columnists and politicians think, but we want to hear from the Scottish people.

Our People's Gathering will be a one day assembly of ordinary people to find out what they think about politics and democracy.

We will be asking such questions such as:
How do we make sure politicians hear the people and act in their interests?
Do the media and big money have too much power over politicians?
Why does politics seem so distant and irrelevant to people?

Find out more and register your interest at www.electoral-reform.org.uk/peoples_gathering

At the end of June we will be selecting 129 people to be as representative as possible of the Scottish people.

Or... start talking about the issues here!

What do you think makes a good Scottish democracy?

Oh and if it is a success then we may roll it out across the UK!

'How do we make sure politicians hear the people and act in their interests?
Do the media and big money have too much power over politicians?
Why does politics seem so distant and irrelevant to people?'

I think the answer to the three questions is the same. The politicians are in thrall to the media and big business. It's not in the interests of big business (or the media) for us to know who owns the companies that buy up land and influence because it is so obviously unfair and even corrupt, and we would complain about it. So the government protects the anonymity of these big companies. Meanwhile, ordinary members of the public are conscious of these powerful organisations that act always in their own interests, but we don't know who they are, so we can't direct our anger at the right people. So we lose hope and become disengaged from the whole process.

Does that sound about right?

So for example, I think we need more transparency in local government, so that we are notified of planning applications, well in advance, and can have our say. At the moment a letter is sent to residents but it's hard to understand, hard to visualise just what is intended, and in order to find out more you need to go to the council's website. If you want to protest you need to do a fair amount of research and write a letter.

It would be good if posters could be put up, with realistic images of what has been applied for, the name of the company building it, the names of the contractors and exactly what the implications are likely to be for residents (eg 'Will increase traffic volumes by 100%/Will probably put X out of business/Will knock down ancient buildings for a car park'). It would also be good to have a few sentences explaining why X company wants to build it, and who will benefit from it. Plus a phone number to ring that is answered by a real person.

Then, if enough people don't want it, it doesn't get built.

By the way, is it only Scottish members of Mumsnet that you want to hear from? Or is it anyone who lives in Scotland?