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https://theconversation.com/politicians-bank-on-people-not-caring-about-democracy-but-research-shows-we-do-271106>
"Across the world, democracies are grappling with a widening gap between
citizens and those who govern. Australia is no exception.
Increasingly, people feel politics is something done to them, not with them or
for them. Many believe the system no longer represents their interests or
responds to their needs, and that it serves powerful actors rather than the
public good.
Australian attitudes echo a broader global trend. People are increasingly
questioning a model of democracy that reduces their role to voting every few
years and leaving the rest to elected representatives. They’re seeking deeper
ways to contribute, especially on complex, long term issues, such as responses
to the climate crisis.
This isn’t a rejection of democracy as an ideal. It’s a loss of faith in how
democracy is being practised. People don’t feel heard.
Surveys have recorded this frustration for several years. Yet they rarely ask
the crucial follow up question: if people are unhappy with the way democracy is
working, what changes do they want to see?
Our new report released today asks this question. Drawing on a nationally
representative survey of 4,200 adults, it shows Australians don’t want less
democracy, they want a more meaningful one. They want democracy that listens,
responds, and creates genuine opportunities between elections, for people to
have a say in the decisions that shape their lives."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
