DIRECT DEMOCRACY AND THE WISDOM OF CROWDS
============================================
Hello fellow peaceniks,
Here is some reformer history that may give everyone hope… 45 years ago peace activists in the US launched a successful campaign to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons, known as the Nuclear Freeze movement. Like minded people in the 21st century should study their strategy that pulled voters directly into the policy debate.
The primary tool was a direct democracy (aka “DD”) approach, using non-binding advisory elections, wherein voters in cities, counties and states were able to vote for a freeze on production of nuclear weapons. This brought the wisdom of crowds into play. The result was massive cutbacks in such weapons held by the superpowers.
Only one third of American voters were given an opportunity to vote on the question, but that was enough. The high amount of publicity generated put a huge amount of pressure on all members of congress. This expression of support for a peaceful foreign policy by local and state electorates across America had a greater impact on politicians than op-eds and protests, which Washington too often shrugs off.
Combined stockpiles of the two superpowers were cut from 63,000 warheads to 12,000. George Bush the 2nd chose to kill the treaty that made this possible and stopped further reductions.
Antiwar activists in the 21st century can use the internet to apply the freeze DD strategy of local and state ballot measures, and bring it to a fruitful state faster than freeze leaders could have imagined. My Houston antiwar group, the Foreign Policy Alliance, has embraced this approach.
I have 40 years experience as a local activist working on projects using tools from the DD playbook. I suggest you investigate its potential because it is the reform tactic that lets the grassroots shape policy debates… EVEN FOREIGN POLICY. Professor John Matsusaka (Univ. of Southern California) is the expert.
There are several books that touch on this part of US history
Below are links to look at to learn more about the freeze episode, whose leaders were connected to the European peace movement, but DD is a smaller part of the European tradition in that part of the world (with the exception of Switzerland).
As a local activist I have advised activists around the United States. Let me know if you care to see some of my materials. A search on Houston and my name will take you to media accounts of my work.
Draft wording of a city ballot question to rescue Gaza…
“Should the United States stop supplying military aid to Israel and demand that Israel immediately commit to a permanent ceasefire with Hamas and peace talks, while allowing into Gaza unlimited medicine, water, food, and materials needed to rebuild Gaza?
YES_______NO_______
Fee free to call on me for more information
Best to all.
Barry Klein
Houston, Texas, USA
713-224-4144
ForeignPolicyAlliance.org
2024 Award, Houston Peace and Justice Center
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DIRECT DEMOCRACY AND THE WISDOM OF CROWDS
============================================
Hello fellow peaceniks,
Here is some reformer history that may give everyone hope… 45 years ago peace activists in the US launched a successful campaign to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons, known as the Nuclear Freeze movement. Like minded people in the 21st century should study their strategy that pulled voters directly into the policy debate.
The primary tool was a direct democracy (aka “DD”) approach, using non-binding advisory elections, wherein voters in cities, counties and states were able to vote for a freeze on production of nuclear weapons. This brought the wisdom of crowds into play. The result was massive cutbacks in such weapons held by the superpowers.
Only one third of American voters were given an opportunity to vote on the question, but that was enough. The high amount of publicity generated put a huge amount of pressure on all members of congress. This expression of support for a peaceful foreign policy by local and state electorates across America had a greater impact on politicians than op-eds and protests, which Washington too often shrugs off.
Combined stockpiles of the two superpowers were cut from 63,000 warheads to 12,000. George Bush the 2nd chose to kill the treaty that made this possible and stopped further reductions.
Antiwar activists in the 21st century can use the internet to apply the freeze DD strategy of local and state ballot measures, and bring it to a fruitful state faster than freeze leaders could have imagined. My Houston antiwar group, the Foreign Policy Alliance, has embraced this approach.
I have 40 years experience as a local activist working on projects using tools from the DD playbook. I suggest you investigate its potential because it is the reform tactic that lets the grassroots shape policy debates… EVEN FOREIGN POLICY. Professor John Matsusaka (Univ. of Southern California) is the expert.
Personal website… https://www.john matsusaka.com/
His work: Initiative and Referendum institute… https://www.iandrinstitute.org/
Matsusaka can be seen on YouTube, such as in this podcast: Can Direct Democracy Defuse Populism? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGrZt9KtnbM&t=1496s
Matsusaka’s book explains the reform mechanism…“Let The People Rule” .
He covers DD in Europe as well as the US.
This book by historian Henry Maar details a peace movement success story using direct democracy: “FREEZE! The Grassroots Movement to Halt the Arms Race and End the Cold War” https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501760884/freeze/#bookTabs=1
There are several books that touch on this part of US history
Below are links to look at to learn more about the freeze episode, whose leaders were connected to the European peace movement, but DD is a smaller part of the European tradition in that part of the world (with the exception of Switzerland).
Interview – Lawrence Wittner – Confronting the Bomb:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsH-cWX5eOQ&t=34s.
Short article: “The Nuclear Freeze and Its impact” https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2010_12/LookingBack
Prof Wittner’s website: https://www.lawrenceswittner.com/
As a local activist I have advised activists around the United States. Let me know if you care to see some of my materials. A search on Houston and my name will take you to media accounts of my work.
Draft wording of a city ballot question to rescue Gaza…
“Should the United States stop supplying military aid to Israel and demand that Israel immediately commit to a permanent ceasefire with Hamas and peace talks, while allowing into Gaza unlimited medicine, water, food, and materials needed to rebuild Gaza?
YES_______NO_______
Fee free to call on me for more information
Best to all.
Barry Klein
Houston, Texas, USA
713-224-4144
ForeignPolicyAlliance.org
2024 Award, Houston Peace and Justice Center