enRoute


	ENROUTE TV ENROUTE FM MEDIA KIT AIR CANADA LINKS WRITERS' GUIDELINES

E-LECTION CAMPAIGN

We’re not voting as much as we used to. Here’s how the Internet can save democracy.

Text: DON TAPSCOTT

FEB

If you plan to be a candidate in my riding during the next federal election, listen carefully. I’m fed up with political one-night stands. Every four years you come around pitching woo, have canvassers sweet-talk me on the doorstep, tell me my views are important and get me all excited. Election night arrives, I see fireworks and cry for joy at democracy in action. And then wham, you dump me. The phone doesn’t ring. No flowers. It’s as if I never existed.

No more. This election I want to start a long-term relationship, and so do many other citizens. With the cheap and abundant communication tools now available, citizens can become involved on an ongoing basis, take responsibility for their communities and country and influence elected officials and vice versa.

What a refreshing change that would be. Since Confederation, politicians and bureaucrats have viewed citizens as being peripheral to affairs of state. When the system was designed, this made sense. Our ancestors elected politicians to go to Ottawa on their behalf, learn the issues, have reasoned debates and pass legislation.

But much has changed. First, many unforeseen events happen between elections, and governments can’t credibly claim to have a clear mandate to deal with them. Second, elections are a blunt instrument. Each of us can only cast one ballot, even though we might feel each party makes legitimate points on a range of issues.

But worst of all, the current system – we vote, they rule – squanders the enormous wisdom and insight we citizens could contribute to tackling today’s complex public policy issues. Governments can’t possibly have all the answers. As the government’s theatre production proceeds, we might object to the way the plot is unfolding. We might have constructive criticism on the dialogue, staging, lighting or ticket prices. We might think some actors are unfairly trying to hog the limelight. Sometimes, we might even want to get onstage briefly ourselves and help build a prop or say a few words.

Consider the idea of digital brainstorming, which would bring together policy officials and citizens for real-time, moderated on-line brainstorming sessions to identify new policy issues or needs. The Prime Minister would say, "We’re going to have a national discussion on revitalizing our cities. It starts on Monday at noon and ends two weeks from Friday at noon. Anyone can participate though the special Website we set up. If you don’t have Internet access, I’ve partnered with corporations, schools, libraries, community computing centres and shopping malls to give you access. We’ll organize the discussion by region and interest group. I’ll participate daily and give my views. At the end of the process, we’ll explore our options for further action."

Other digital tools could include the following:

On-line citizen panels   Randomly chosen citizens serve as policy advisers on an issue. They use the Web to hear evidence, ask questions and deliberate to arrive at policy recommendations. Permanent advisory bodies would consist of a cross-section of citizens who use the Web to debate ideas and share information.

Deliberative polling   Citizens are given the resources to learn about the issues in a collaborative and deliberative fashion. This would combine small group discussions on the Internet with scientific random sampling to contribute more informed public input on policy making than instant polling can provide.

Virtual question periods   Political representatives are made available on-line for regular question-and-answer periods with their constituents.

Scenario planning   Scenarios are built with simulation and modelling software to project future policy needs and to understand the consequences of decisions. Politicians, bureaucrats and citizens would assess the potential impact on many factors, from health to the environment to the economy.

These tools have nothing in common with the "direct democracy" schemes, where we would all vote on-line after watching the evening news. People don’t have the time, inclination or expertise to become well informed on every issue. We want reasoned opinion, not just any opinion.

So MPs would keep their jobs. We would still need the House of Commons to debate, refine and resolve issues. But this activity would be done within the context of an interactive democracy that encourages citizen involvement.

The need for reform is clear. A growing number of Canadians are turning their backs on the democratic process. In the last federal election, a jaw-dropping 8.2 million voters boycotted the ballot box. Voter turnout has dropped during the last four elections. We will pay a heavy price if voter apathy continues. Citizens need to believe their involvement in the democratic process is meaningful and warrants their time and energy. That way they’re more likely to respect the decisions the government makes. We have new digital tools at our disposal. We’d be foolhardy not to use them. [ ]

ADD YOUR COMMENTS > dtapscott@enroutemag.net

FEB