jad@harpo.UUCP (jad) (06/04/84)
       It is extremely important to the welfare of the world that a partici-
    pative type of democratic decision-making become well practiced, refined
    
    and popularized. 
       Suppose a cardinal issue of world-wide concern, the nuclear threat,
    were examined through a forum open to all people of all nations. In this
    forum, all varying ideas for dealing with this issue would be welcome.
    Then, after a general agreement to terminate the exchange of ideas, 
    successive run-off votes would be taken until the numerous proposals
    were finally reduced to one. With the endorsement of everyone involved,
    that proposition would constitute a forceful appeal to world leaders.
       Such a movement, of itself, might engender other movements to deal
    with the nuclear threat. Moreover, it would be an experiment in direct
    democracy.          
                                        John DiNardo
    piet@mcvax.UUCP (Piet Beertema) (06/06/84)
<..>
The numerous proposals of all countries reduced to one?
There's only one place where that can happen: Utopia!
-- 
	Piet Beertema, CWI, Amsterdam
	...{decvax,philabs}!mcvax!piet