Issues Under Fire: Searching the World for Alternative Democracies, We Found One in Iceland

 

Issues Under Fire: Searching the World for Alternative Democracies, We Found One in Iceland

In our ceaseless quest to explore the world to better understand how other political and socioeconomic models are responding to the needs of those they serve, we paid particular attention to this weekend's election results in the tiny nation of Iceland. Like America, their citizens, too, are fed up with establishment politics, but unlike Americans, Icelanders fought back. Some of their citizens founded Iceland's Pirate Party. And while it may be radical and revolutionary, it is responsive to the needs and desires of the people. 

For those who may not know what Pirate politics mean, we'll explain. According to Wikipedia, Pirate Party is a label adopted by political parties in different countries. Pirate Parties support civil rights, direct democracy and participation in government, reform of copyright and patent law, free sharing of knowledge (open content), information privacy, transparency, freedom of information, anti-corruption and internet neutrality. And while Iceland's Pirate Party went even further, seeking the legalization of drugs and sanctuary for hackers and whistleblowers like Edward Snowden and Julian Assange, we were most interested in their fight for direct democracy and participation in government.

Direct democracy, also known as pure democracy, is similar to, but distinct from, representative democracy, where people vote for representatives (politicians) who then enact policy initiatives for them. Since Americans have more than sufficient evidence to prove widespread corruption through campaign financing, district gerrymandering, corporate influence, pork barrel politics and its resulting political gridlock, one would think they'd give this more inclusive, grassroots form of managed self-governance a closer look.

One can only wonder why Americans would continue to place their fates in the hands of politicians they don't trust. And let's face it, who the hell trusts Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton or any other establishment candidate selling themselves as a "choice". No matter what the Democratic or Republican Party platforms state during an election, how could the voter ever know for certain the politician will follow through on the policies, promises and proposals they've pledged to support? The short answer is, you don't know and the long answer is, you never will. 

In a direct democracy, there's less of a need for trust, because the people are brought closer to the process. Depending on the particular system being used, in a direct democracy, the people could be involved with passing executive decisions, making laws, directly electing or dismissing officials and even conducting trials. They have the power of the referendum, the power of initiative and the power of recall. These are powers American voters don't have, but in our opinion, desperately need. Especially the power of the referendum.

Imagine if America could hold nationwide referendums on every major issue dividing the country, thereby bypassing a needlessly cumbersome and corrupt political process. By our estimation, issues like immigration and criminal justice reforms, the legalization of marijuana, the federal minimum wage, how to provide and pay for national healthcare, how to provide and pay for free college tuition, how to provide and pay for a dignified social safety net for American seniors, as well as how to reduce America's global military footprint would have been dealt with by now. 

Imagine if Americans could've voted to go or not to go to war against Saddam Hussein. Without solid, independent, indisputable evidence and actionable intelligence, do you think the American voter would've allowed George W. Bush and the neocons to invade Iraq? Do you think Americans would've voted to stay in Afghanistan long after the killing of Osama bin Laden and President Obama's promise to get the hell out of Dodge? Do you think Americans would vote to send troops to Syria, knowing that military option could quickly escalate already strained tensions with Russia and regional adversary, Iran? We're confident, given the opportunity to have a say on these issues, Americans would have said no in every case. 

Bottom line: Admittedly, Iceland is a tiny nation with about one percent of America's population count, but after the Panama Papers exposed Prime Minister Sigmundur Davio Gunnlaugsson and his wife's hidden fortunes, while the nation suffered under government austerity policies, the people did something about it. They formed a Party of the people for the people and ran a populist campaign against the establishment. And while they didn't exactly sweep the elections, they did gain enough political clout to force a coalition government. Moving forward, everyday Icelanders have a voice and a seat at the table. They don't have to trust anyone but themselves. America should take heed. Podcast below. BTW, there are counter arguments to Direct Democracy, but none strong enough to keep you from exploring it as an alternative.