Democracy and Freedom Charter

Charter for Democracy and Freedom (first draft)

Freedom of Speech

Freedom of Speech* is the right to hold, express and debate different opinions and ideas in public. It is a fundamental Principle of Democracy. Democracy cannot function unless Freedom of Speech is enshrined and defended. Everyone must have a voice.

Fully Informed Citizens

Democracy cannot function without an informed citizenry able to access a variety of competing narratives. Mainstream media controlled by a small group of large corporations with their own agendas cannot provide that full information and debate. Democracies need a public broadcaster controlled by the people for the people where the widest range of opinions and ideas can be shared and debated.

Voting Rights for All

Democracy cannot function where citizens’ role is to vote every 4 or 5 years for one or the other ideological group (aka political parties)  to control us behind closed doors. This current system makes a mockery of democracy.

Democracy functions when all citizens not only have a voice but a vote on decisions that affect our individual and collective lives. Modern Information & Blockchain technologies make this relatively easy to implement while safeguarding the security, privacy and anonymity of those who participate.

What decisions will be subject to national or local votes and what decisions are best made by the civil service without democratic input can be debated and decided upon – by all citizens.

The exact details of how we implement Genuine Democracy and preserve Freedom of Speech can be worked out using the scientific experimental method and may change over time. The crucial ingredient is that we all have a say and a vote on how our new system of self-governance works. We are then no longer victims of government policies and decisions but active participants in shaping them.

In a nutshell, the Principles of Genuine Democracy boil down to:

1. Guaranteed Freedom of Speech

2. A public platform where all ideas can be shared and debated

3. Every citizen having an equal vote in determining government policy and measures.

*Laws against Libel (the deliberate telling of lies to defame individuals or groups) and Incitement to Violence (the deliberate encouragement of others to commit violence against individuals or groups) would still apply. Those accused of of breaking these laws will be tried in a court with a jury of their peers.

It costs you nothing to get involved. Download the Pledge to Democracy and Freedom and follow the instructions.