Most, but not all 34 OECD countries at the national, state/province, city and town levels, have adopted some form of Proportional Representation. Not all districts in all OECD countries have adopted Pro Rep and Direct Democracy.
Best Democracy works to educate the public, implement Proportional Representation and Direct Democracy, that everyone may be fairly represented and included in decision making. We should reject archaic systems of representation designed to exclude people, and adopt contemporary methods of representation, designed to include nearly everyone. This pledge is a means of self identifying candidates who share our values of fair representation, fair elections, easy candidate ballot access, inclusiveness, dispersed power and Direct Democracy, and assist them in their campaigns.
Most current systems of representation and elections in English speaking countries with the exceptions of Ireland and New Zealand, use First Past the Post (FPTP) elections in Single Member Districts, guaranteed to discriminate against and exclude all minorities from decision making, distort election outcomes, limit pluralism and concentrate power.
Proportional Representation in Multi Member Districts is the most effective method of achieving dispersed power and inclusive government. Proportional Representation = Fair Representation.
The Best Democracy Pledge
• If elected, I pledge to do everything I can to implement Proportional Representation in Multi Member Districts for legislative elections at the level of government for which I’m a candidate (local, state/province, or national), so everyone will have a vote that counts equally and seats match votes.
• I pledge to prioritize the implementation of online petitioning for ballot initiatives on a government website at the level of government for which I’m a candidate.
Anyone who posts their agreement to the Best Democracy Pledge on their platform page will receive a 100 word, self written post, with a photo, a link to their platform page, and (if the candidate chooses) a video post behind the head shot on their Democracy reform platform. I can do the video production at my house in Boulder, CO, or you can send the video for posting. Once you have posted your agreement to the Pledge, send the link to your web site page to jesse @ bestdemocracy . org. Signers will have their posts organized by:
Country
State/Province
District they are a candidate for
Chronological order of pledge received
The path forward is one step at a time. Each candidate who takes the Best Democracy Pledge takes us another step toward fair, inclusive representation and elections.
Sakyo-Ku Path, Kyoto © 2015 Jesse Kumin, All Rights Reserved
When I was a Marine Corps Officer, I fought for a country that believes in democracy, fair competitive elections, equal access to education, and liberty for all. I wasn’t fighting for a country by and for an elite class of plutocrats and predatory corporations. Ken Buck has forgotten who he is working for. Ken Buck doesn’t believe in democracy. He is an agent of BIG government, corruption, fiscal irresponsibility and unaccountable, concentrated power.
We need inclusive, fair, ethical representation. We need to address climate change with a 21st C. energy policy, campaign finance reform, affordable healthcare and full gainful employment. Ike McCorkle
Best Democracy
Candidate Pledge
