Sagi to Continuing International Congress on Direct Democracy, CICDD

"Listserver CICDD" <cicdd@yahoo.com>

Subject: What is the purpose of Governances?

Date: Tuesday, March 14, 2000 1:54 PM

We live in an era of unprecedented dual potential. Our civilization could flourish or perish. We must prevent the negative outcome, and therefore we cannot rely entirely on the old theories of Montesquieu, Rousseau, Locke, Jefferson, or a few-hundred-years old constitutions and laws.

From total freedom of ancient food-gatherers we have evolved and have become members of totally interreliant and interdependent societies (nation-states). This communal coexistence mandates the creation of a system that sets up the rules of societal conduct. The questions how to govern ourselves are:

a)  What principles should govern?

b)  How to implement the principles in practice?

a)  The main principle is: GOVERNANCES SHOULD SECURE THAT ALL MEMBERS OF SOCIETY ARE ABLE TO SATISFY THEIR PRIMARY NEEDS AND VITAL INTERESTS.

I believe this general principle would satisfy the points raised by Peter Mc Donald, and also Colin Stark's population control and energy consumption; Jerry West setting limits on wealth; Paul Isaacs': "The purpose of government is to give society the means to give expression to the common good.", and even the compassionate side of "Red-Tory" Nick Loenen: public justice and the protection of the week.

Crucial is to set and guard these rights by the people affected, so that every citizen could live under well-provided material and cultural circumstances. Therefore,

b)  GOVERNANCES MUST BE CONTROLLED BY A CONSTITUTION AND LAWS THAT ARE BASED UPON THE FIRST PRINCIPLE AND THEIR IMPLEMENTATION SHOULD BE ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

George S. Sagi