Post in Fw: Request: What issue would you like to hold a public discussion about?

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kathleen.McMullen" <kathleen.mcmullen@ntlworld.com>
To: "Chris Todd" <chris.todd@zoom.co.uk>
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 2:53 PM
Subject: Re: [BH-Issues] Request: What issue would you like to hold a public
discussion about?


> 'Down to the local level'
> ▼
>
> needs to be replaced with 'Up from the grassroots,  or basement dwelling
or
> kitchen sink!▲
>
> Kathleen
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Chris Todd" <chris.todd@zoom.co.uk>
> To: "BH@forums Issues Forum" <bh@forums.e-democracy.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 9:11 AM
> Subject: Re: [BH-Issues] Request: What issue would you like to hold a
public
> discussion about?
>
>
> > I would certainly like to see some work on proportional representation
and
> > how the current voting system is disenfranchising people.  I live in a
> > strong Labour ward so unless you vote Labour your vote counts for
nothing.
> > Equally, if I lived in Withdean ditto with the Tories and probably the
> same
> > for the Greens in North Laine and St Peters.
> >
> > While I agree with Joyce that proportional representation is not a
> panacea,
> > the current voting system cannot be helping engaging more people with
> local
> > politics.  On a moral level it also seems much fairer that greater
account
> > is taken of people's views when deciding the political makeup of the
> > Council, rather than those views being swept aside because they are not
in
> > the majority as thrown up by the current voting system, which actually
> only
> > relates to a very small proportion of the local population in any case.
> >
> > People also often talk about devolving power down to a local level and
> this
> > is often bandied around as the cure of all ills for local democracy but
I
> > would like some dicussion around this as I don't necessarily agree.
There
> > are some issues, environmental pollution being one of them, where
> devolving
> > unfettered power down to a local level could be a disaster.  So whatever
> > happens there are going to have to be some guidelines or restraints on
> > devolved power which will be seen by some as undermining the power of
> local
> > people to determine their own destiny.
> >
> > Chris Todd
> >
> >
> >
> > Chris Todd
> >
> > Info about Chris Todd: http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/christodd
> >
> > This topic's messages may be viewed at:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/4iER5KC0BpkVuN4GarBUnD
> > -----------------------------------------
> >   To post, send your message to: <email obscured>
> >   To leave or for daily digest, type "unsubscribe" or "digest on,"
> >   in subject line and send to: <email obscured>
> >
> >   More info about Brighton &amp; Hove Issues Forum:
> >   http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/bh
> >
> >   E-Democracy.Org rules: http://e-democracy.org/rules
> > -----------------------------------------
> > Technical assistance thanks to our friends at http://OnlineGroups.Net
> >
> >
> > --
> > No virus found in this incoming message.
> > Checked by AVG.
> > Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.6/1403 - Release Date:
> 29/04/2008 07:26
> >
> >
>