The article in the url below reports on an interesting experiment in France aimed at a limited form of direct democracy:
"A nurse, a roofer, an electrician, a former fireman, a lycée pupil, a photographer, a teacher, a marketing manager, an entrepreneur and a civil servant. Sitting on red velvet benches in a domed art-deco amphitheatre in Paris, they and 140 colleagues are part of an unusual democratic experiment in a famously centralised country."
The group was formed as part of Emmanuel Macron's response to the Yellow Jackets movement, a citizen's uprising protesting against increased gasoline taxes, specifically, but growing income and wealth inequality, in general:
"Their mission: to draw up measures to reduce French greenhouse-gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030, in line with an EU target that is otherwise in danger of being missed. … Six months ago, none of them had met. Now, they have just one month left to show that they can reinvent the French democratic process—and help save the planet."
The "citizen's climate convention," as it is known, does not appear to have its own webpage, but it does have a Wikipedia page. The convention consists of a randomly-selected group of citizens who have been tasked with finding alternatives to the gas tax rise, which was so soundly rejected by French citizens last year:
"On March 6th the 'citizens' climate convention' was due to begin its penultimate three-day sitting, the sixth since it began work last October. The convention is made up of a representative sample of the French population, selected by randomly generated telephone numbers. … In response to the demand for less top-down decision-making, [Macron] first launched what he grandly called a 'great national debate,' which took place a year ago. He also pledged the creation of a citizens' assembly. It is designed to focus on precisely the conundrum that provoked the original protests against a rise in the carbon tax on motor fuel: how to make green policy palatable, efficient and fair."
By all accounts, it is a serious exercise:
"Divided into five working groups—to discuss such topics as transport, housing or food—they then began working on proposals that could actually be put into practice. Scientists, farmers, businessmen, urban planners and over 100 other witnesses were summoned. In January they invited Mr Macron, who spent over two hours answering questions and urged them to be 'precise' and 'bold.' In an over-lit basement meeting room on a recent Friday evening, small groups could be found poring over documents, discussing the feedback given by legal experts on their initial ideas. Five lawyers are on hand to help shape proposals into legally enforceable text."
It will be interesting to see whether the convention can generate some practical and meaningful policy recommendations. Due to the fact that the group was randomly-selected, it consists of people across the ideological spectrum and, as such, includes a representation of climate sceptics. While the ideological differences remain, perhaps the absence of special interests or lobbying groups can help cut through the inertia that has paralyzed the conventional political process on this issue:
"Despite such differences, over 90% of the original delegates are still taking part. … the gravity of the subject, along with Mr Macron's backing, have been crucial in persuading delegates to invest long hours and weekends away from home in the exercise. It is a gamble nonetheless. Next month, the assembly will send its final list of measures to Mr Macron. He has promised delegates that he would put the bulk of them either to parliament, or to a referendum."
Take care
David
David Chandler
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Aux powerpoints, citoyens!
Aux powerpoints, citoyens!
March 7, 2020
The Economist
Late Edition – Final
50
