Democracy,everyone has a right to vote and choose who they think will be best for them and their fellow citizens. The problem is,without an informed citizenship how do you know who to vote for to best safeguard your interests? I agree,citizens can't always be voting for each and every small issue and that's why we have representatives. But are representatives really representing us if we can't understand what they are saying and what they intend to do.Now that brings in the problem,is democracy a pacifier?

I agree but I don't completely understand. Care to explain direct democracy? I hadn't thought about self interest of representatives,a big problem. Isn't the objective to elect representative who will try to find out what the needs of the people are and engage them to try and solve them.

But people don't like more responsibilities. Direct democracy is demanding but bears more fruit.

People appear not to like responsibility because of its costs and because the Market structures are flawed.

But with the internet, the Citizen will experience less costs, and great gains if he/she is directly responsible for what happens around.

Again, since the government can no longer provide employment, health facilities and the goodies it has often promised, it follows that it must encourage the direct participation of the individual through social and cultural influence.

How does this direct democracy really work?

ChessMaster, we are talking about powers behind history here.

The world is now connected, and governments and politicians are embracing this connection and what comes with it.

Didn't you see our very own president giving his blessings?

These are exciting times for government. It is a period of restructuring.

For example, the more people are connected the more they move into barter trade. Now add other forms of trade like cultural exchanges that have multiple levels of valuation, and you'll see that monetary policy is diminishing in importance.

How will activities on cyberspace be taxed? There's no other way than to make development proposals to the citizens and asking them to provide the funding. Even fiscal policy must change.

There's no other way for government, it must be restructured.

Every force must meet 'resistance'. But let us put it into context. This is the evidence for motion.

Imagine a Grand Master playing against a student; won't he meet resistance?

Only the resultant matters.

Think about how Jubilee and Cord had to show how their manifestos had come from the 'grassroots'.

And notice how it was quickly interrogated! That is, which politician will want his manifesto thrown to the dust bin before he is even elected?

Therefore the politician has no alternative but hold perpetual conversation with the voter.

The Kenyan government is doing very well in this matter. It has shown a willingness to move along this historical force.