It's time for ants to decide what they want

http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/10/power-to-the-ants.html 

In good old days of ancient Greece the real democracy was created -  when major decisions were discussed and voted by people. It was then a natural process of the growth of states that made impossible in practical terms for people to gather for voting and discussion.
Hence - direct democracy was gradually replaced by representative democracy. And finally people delegated so much power to their elected "representatives" that it's no longer a democracy really.

But! But Iceland now in the position to return power back to people (and in urgent need to so indeed). Today the people of Iceland can  "standa saman" and make decisions for themselves.
They are ready technically. Everyone is "connected", people no longer have to be in one room to make one decision.
They are ready socially. Everyone is blogging, twitting, facebooking or involved otherwise.
They are ready politically - as current problems motivate more and more people to be active.

So people of Iceland in the position to govern by themselves. Without delegating the decision power to "representatives".

Some people told me that Icelanders are not ready to govern themselves, not ready to make "wise" decision. OMG! If they can vote for someone else they don't know - why they can't vote for themselves? What's the difference?
Look at InDefense phenomena! A group of people were able to get 80,000+ "voters" in a week or so! Why? There was the idea, the goal, the cause!
Look at bloggers - some of them are read  by tens of thousands. Without any "political party" behind them - just because they have something to say.

And the last thing. And most important actually.
I was told many times by many people - this is great (nice, brilliant, excellent etc.) idea but...it would take years to get the system - laws, constitution etc. - changed whilst we have the kreppa now. So - forget it. That's right...but!
But nothing can stop a few guys to set up a server with voting system and run it in "test" mode. How?
By posting same matters for discussions and later for voting that are in the Althingi. And let people discuss and vote. But because this is not a "legal" thing yet - there is a trick. The vote results must be announced AFTER the result of voting in the Althingi!
Then people will be able to compare what People of Iceland and what their "representatives" are standing for.

And believe me - even without proper legal form it won't be possible to ignore the Voice of People.

And then it won't take much time to change the System.

No more Gallup BS, no more "government coalitions", no more "promises". Everyone can suggest, discuss and decide. Or do nothing of course.

This doesn't mean no government, no political parties. But this time professional politicians will have to prove they are up to job not during the elections only - but all the time.

100 foots on the streets or 100 words on the screens?

Following the discussion about the power of toilet paper

http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/09/insurgent-rebels-with-toilet-paper.html

I want to address the issue of Jessica who asked: "...how are ordinary people supposed to care when they’re not even being listened to?"

My thoughts below also address the question what is more effective way to get "people on top" to listen to the people - to use foot or to use brain.

And the "thought" itself

 So - " just over 100 people showed up at City Hall when the sale of HS Orka was debated, and subsequently passed."
Congrats! The pure democracy in action! Elected representatives, active opposition, debates - all ingredients are in place!

Then why

It’s  just so draining. Seriously, I can see why people just throw in the towel and become complacent. ?

and

how are ordinary people supposed to care when they’re not even being listened to?

As I mentioned before - maybe it's time to use brain rather than foot? Toilet paper and skyr are not what can solve the mess.

Long story short. People have been fed by "democracy" BS for the last 200 years or so. But was it a democracy?
It was - long time ago, in Greece. But then some clever guy invented  "representatives" aka politicians (and of the oldest profession as well). The reason behind was very reasonable - it was not practical nor possible to get all people together to discuss and decide. Bad weather (sorry, Alda), long travel, thikness and birthdays, business and laziness - all these things prevent people from performing democracy.
Since that invention people have been delegating their powers to someone they never saw nor had any control of.
Do you know how many forms of democracy were invented? Wiki gives 12!
    * 2.1 Representative
          o 2.1.1 Parliamentary
          o 2.1.2 Liberal
    * 2.2 Constitutional
    * 2.3 Direct
    * 2.4 Participatory
    * 2.5 Socialist
    * 2.6 Anarchist
    * 2.7 Iroquois
    * 2.8 Sortition
    * 2.9 Consensus
    * 2.10 Supranational
    * 2.11 Cosmopolitan
    * 2.12 Non-governmental
Which one do you prefer?
Or...should Iceland turn the whole system upside UP again?

I mean that current civilization and Iceland in particular in the position to return power back to people.
Today people of Iceland can  "standa saman" and make decisions. We are ready technically - as everyone is "connected",  we are ready socially - as everyone is blogging, twitting, facebooking or weatherreporting, we are ready politically - as we can google everything :-)
So every and each Nicelandic adult can be the MP now - no more representatives we delegated to make decisions on our behalf.

Few points to stress!

I'm not talking about electronic voting. Voting "via internet" for the old system of governing is not the case.

Some people told me that Nicelanders are not ready to govern themselves, not ready to make decision that make sense. OMfG! If they can vote for someone else they don't know - why they can't vote for themselves? What's the difference?
Look at InDefense phenomena! A group of people were able to get 80,000 "voters" in a week or so! Why? They have the idea, the goal, the cause!
Look at bloggers - some of them are read (or listen - if we use old fashion term) by tens of thousands. Without any "political party" (whatever this sh*t means) - just because they have something to say.

And the last thing. And most important actually.
I was told many times by many people - this is great (nice, brilliant, excellent etc.) idea but...it would take years to get the system - laws, constitution etc. - changed but we have the kreppa now. So let's go to drum pots....

But the legal part as an excuse? Sorry, but nothing can stop a few guys to set up a server with voting system and run it in "test" or "demo" mode. By placing same matters for discussion and later for voting that are in the Parliament. Right now. And let people to discuss and vote. But because this is not a "legal" thing - there is a trick. The vote results must be posted AFTER the result of voting in the real Parliament!
Then people will be able to compare what People of Iceland and what politicians are thinking really about this or that matter.

And believe me - even without proper legal form it won't be possible to ignore the Voice of People. Then it won't take much time to change the System. As soon as enough people log and vote.
If InDefense could do it - why this Parliament of People can not?

No more gallup BS, no more "government coalitions", no more "promises". Everyone can suggest, discuss and decide. Or do nothing of course.

PS. This doesn't mean no government, no political parties. But this time professional politicians will have to prove they are up to job not during the elections only - but all the time. At least we need someone who can type  text without grammar errors :-)

 

 

What's wrong with people?

From icelandreview.is 

"there is no supervision with Heidmörk during the weekends due to cuts in funding from Reykjavík City and Gardabaer."

Why on Earth are people always talking about money? Why don't they trust people?

What if Adalsteinn Sigurgeirsson, the vice-chairman of the Reykjavík Forestation Association just asks people to help. I'm sure there will be enough volunteers to help to "patrol" the area. What they need are only initial guidnance and some offcicial status - like uniform or badge - so visitor would know that these people are on duty (who cares whether they are paid for that or not?). 

Heidmörk belongs to people of Iceland - and I'm sure people of iceland could protect it.

Keeping in mind a number of people who have more free time these days - this should be a problem. 

It's really strange to see how these days eveyone is looking at the government or something else for help. Are people so disabled to do something by themsleves? 

 

Börðust við eld í Heiðmörk

Iceland as seen by Rúslendingur :-)

This is Iceland how I see it

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The rest of what I see - in my albums

Dear visitors...

Please visit me later when the project we are working on with Sturla  (see him at my firends list) could be open for public discussion.

So far - enjoy the reading of some of my "crazy" ideas

http://www.borgarafundur.org/?page_id=61 

"Get power back to the people of Iceland
In the good old days people of Greece created the new way of governing - democracy. They were gathering at forums (aka torg) to discuss and vote for all significant matters of their states. At that time every town was its own state - so it was easy. As towns - and states have been growing - it’s become more and more difficult to get people together at one time and at one place. So some smart person invented “people’s representatives” known in our days as Members of Parliament. And that was the beginning of the end of democracy - and the power of people. Because today the only thing these “representatives” care about is to get elected. For that they can promise you anything - and then get loose to do anything. Till next election. And they are really good at this as you know.

But back to my idea.
Iceland is really a unique country in many ways. And in these days in particular
Because Iceland is in the position to get the power back to people, get back to real direct democracy. The old limitations - gathering together to discuss and vote - is no longer a limit in Iceland. With everyone’s access to Internet it’s possible to create the Parliament of People (where all people of Iceland are Members) that will discuss all matters and vote. In fact this is what you we are doing now - discussing! But one element is still missing - ability to vote.

I know, I know that it might take a long time to change laws, Constitution etc. to make such thing happen. That’s right. But nothing can prevent YOU to set up a virtual Parliament right NOW! Just set up a server with simple voting system (by kennitala), publish there all matters discussed by professional members of Parliament and let people vote on that matters. The only trick - do not publish vote results until old Parliament declares its own result.
Yes, such votes won’t  have any legal power. BUT! It will give people the power to say what they really want and what they really think about matters. No more Gallup bullshit, no more unknown “public opinions”. And although such votes won’t have legal power - professional members would think twice what they are saying and how they are voting. As soon as such system starts to work.
And if you set up the forum where everyone can suggest anything of real significance - and this also might be decided by vote - then it won’t be a problem to force the old Parliament to take the matter into the house"