Iceland elects ordinary folk to draft constitution

liah

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101126/ap_on_re_eu/eu_iceland_election

REYKJAVIK, Iceland – Iceland's getting a new constitution — and it's really going to be the voice of the people.
The sparsely-populated volcanic island is holding an unusual election Saturday to select ordinary citizens to cobble together a new charter, an exercise in direct democracy born out of the outrage and soul-searching that followed the nation's economic meltdown.
Hundreds of people are vying for the chance to be among up to 31 people who will form the Constitutional Assembly slated to convene early next year — a source of huge pride for Icelanders who have seen their egos take a beating in recent years.
"This is the first time in the history of the world that a nation's constitution is reviewed in such a way, by direct democratic process," says Berghildur Erla Bergthorsdottir, spokeswoman for the committee entrusted with organizing the Constitutional Assembly.
Iceland has never written its own constitution. After gaining independence from Denmark in 1944, it took the Danish constitution, amended a few clauses to state that it was now an independent republic, and substituted the word 'president' for 'king.' A comprehensive review of the constitution has been on the agenda ever since.
Pressure mounted for action after the nation's economic collapse in 2008, an event punctuated by ordinary citizens gathering outside the Althingi, the parliament, banging pots, pans and barrels — a loud, clanging expression of fury. The meltdown was seen not only as a failure of the economy but of the system of government and regulatory agencies. Many came to believe a tighter constitutional framework — including a clearer division of powers — might have been able to minimize that damage, or even prevent it.
"It is very important for ordinary citizens, who have no direct interest in maintaining the status quo, to take part in a constitutional review," said Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir. "We are hoping this new constitution will be a new social covenant leading to reconstruction and reconciliation, and for that to happen, the entire nation needs to be involved."
The election marks yet another twist in the fortunes of this Nordic nation of just 320,000 that went from economic marvel to fiscal basket-case almost overnight. The rugged island settled by Vikings was transformed from a country of fisherman to hub of international finance with dizzying speed. Icelandic investors — dubbed 'Viking raiders' — snapped up assets around the world for a decade, mostly on borrowed funds.
The global financial crisis wreaked political and economic havoc in Iceland. Banks collapsed in October 2008, and with them the Icelandic currency, the krona. Unemployment soared, as did the cost of living. Loans issued in foreign currencies during the boom suddenly doubled, tripled or even quadrupled, all due to the collapse of the krona.
Icelanders debated their values and turned to questioning the foundations of their society, including those that had facilitated the boom. Anger grew as more instances of misdeeds and incompetence in the private and public sector were exposed. Icelanders woke up to the harsh fact that their country, which had consistently been at or near the top of the Transparency International anti-corruption index, was, in fact, steeped in corruption.
That was ultimately confirmed in a 2,000-page report following a special parliamentary investigation. That report showed that the foundations of Icelandic society were decayed and that a sweeping revision of the social framework was needed.
Sigurdardottir says a new social covenant can at least assist in "restoring the public's faith in the government."
The constitutional assembly will be made up of 25 to 31 delegates, the final number to be determined by a gender and equality ratio. It will be made up of regular citizens elected by direct personal voting. Anyone is eligible to stand for election, with the exceptions of the president, lawmakers and the committee appointed to organize the assembly.
The assembly will draft a proposed new constitution next year. They will use material from another extraordinary project earlier this year in which 1,000 randomly chosen Icelanders — aged 18-89 — offered their views on what should be in the constitution.
Now the race is on to be among the charter's authors, with 523 people in the running. Truck drivers, university professors, lawyers, journalists and computer geeks are all among the candidates. All have been given equal air time on Icelandic radio to make their platforms known.
Those elected will receive a salary equal to that of Iceland's lawmakers while the constitutional review takes place, and Icelandic employers are legally obliged to grant leave to any employees elected to the assembly.
One candidate, Thorvaldur Gylfason, a professor of economics at the University of Iceland, drew parallels between Iceland and South Africa, saying that a country that has experienced shock needs a fresh start.
"A country that has suffered a complete economic and moral collapse needs to start with a clean slate," he said. "We need to ensure that the sort of malpractice and negligence that, among other things, led to the collapse of the Icelandic economy two years ago, cannot happen again."
Not everyone is convinced that the constitution should be amended, and some view the process as a frivolous populist exercise. They cite the high cost of the assembly and the difficulty of adequately presenting all the candidates.
Thorsteinn Arnalds, an engineer, is running in hopes of keeping the existing constitution intact, arguing that change in a time of crisis is preposterous.
"The constitution had nothing to do with the bank collapse, and it is not standing in the way of rebuilding," he said. "Right now we need the basic social structures in place, not for them to be torn down."
Others, like Berglind Steinsdottir, a proofreader and student, are more enthusiastic.
"I am incredibly optimistic and excited about seeing what comes out of this," Steinsdottir said.

I think this is absolutely brilliant, and I'm amazed that Iceland of all places was the first nation to do this.

What do you guys think? Would you support something similar for Ireland? It's obvious the idiots in there right now are incapable, and I'm not sure how big a difference any other party could make. There's some glaring holes in the constitution and much of the current system is still stuck in last century.

I reckon it'll be very interesting to follow what happens with this. This could set a precedent and turn a lot of things around. Or, it could go horribly, horribly wrong and set the nation back another 50 years.

Guess we'll wait and see!

Cheap Thrills!

Well, I like this. We can't sit back and complain if we fail to engage!! At least if we had a say in the terms we could find some motivation to make the national plan a success!!

DOC09UNAM

**** sake, I got my hopes up because I read it as "Ireland elects ordinary folk to draft constitution"

Fantastic idea though, if only they would do it here.

Terry

liah wrote: »

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101126/ap_on_re_eu/eu_iceland_election



I think this is absolutely brilliant, and I'm amazed that Iceland of all places was the first nation to do this.

What do you guys think? Would you support something similar for Ireland? It's obvious the idiots in there right now are incapable, and I'm not sure how big a difference any other party could make. There's some glaring holes in the constitution and much of the current system is still stuck in last century.

I reckon it'll be very interesting to follow what happens with this. This could set a precedent and turn a lot of things around. Or, it could go horribly, horribly wrong and set the nation back another 50 years.

Guess we'll wait and see!

If today is anything to go by, then I would suggest that Ireland does not follow this example.

A bunch of sheep being led to the slaughter by some of the people who actually caused the problems in the first place. It's quite obvious that most of the people there today cannot think for themselves, so they should never be given the chance to think for the rest of us.

One of the most rabid of the protestors shown on sky news is a regular drug abuser. I know him. He regularly boasts about his drug abuse on facebook.
I don't want any of these people having any say in how this country is run.

Turquoise1

Bloody brilliant idea! Of course, Ireland would be one of last countries in the world to implement this :rolleyes:

Unpossible

Writing a consitution is very serious and complicated, I don't think I would trust the average joe on the street with this. especially when it was regular joes who voted in FF and borrowed too much money to pay for expensive houses, cars, holidays etc.
Or is it a case of some people writing a guideline of 12 and then parliment making amendments and adding articles to them? How do they ensure its done in accordance with international human rights?

Edit: Just to clarify, while I also have strong views on how this country should be run. I don't think I would be the best person for the job either.

iamstop

good idea in theory.

nordisk celt83

The Labour Party have proposed a complete review of the Irish Constitution, if elected. Like the above draft, ordinary Irish citizens would have a significant part in forming such a constitution...

It's a fantastic idea, and formed a major part of Gilmore's 'One Ireland of equals' speech at Labour's conevention last year.
The changes needed in this country are not just in the profile of its parliament, but one of more fundamental importance. We have the opportunity to mould a true republic of equals and abandon the failed state sculpted by Dev and the Catholic Church in the archaic 1930's!

CreepingDeath

Just as long as the trade unions don't get their hands on the constitution.

BeefJerkyX

I'd love this.

It's funny, with all the people spitting venom over the Brians recently, I couldn't help but wonder - has anyone we've had ever been better? If Bertie had done an interview hungover, like Cowen did, because they were better times it would have been just a running joke for a week. Good ol' Bertie. Each generation of politicians exposes the previous as being corrupt.

So, to me, something seems totally wrong in the system. I don't know what that is but I think we need complete political reform.

And something like this sounds like it could be a really good thing for us. Could be a mess of course but it could hardly be worse.

Mark200

Turquoise1 wrote: »

Bloody brilliant idea! Of course, Ireland would be one of last countries in the world to implement this :rolleyes:

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

This type of pointless bashing of Ireland is getting quite boring, where people just look for any reason to be critical.

On the whole Iceland thing... sounds great in theory, but in reality it's still just representative democracy really. There are still going to be huge amounts of people unhappy with the outcome regardless of what it is. I don't really see how it's a huge improvement over any other system. Every politician was once upon a time an "ordinary citizens". That is, until they got elected. I'd imagine the same thing is going to happen to those who put together the constitution.

LostinBlanch

liah wrote: »

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101126/ap_on_re_eu/eu_iceland_election



I think this is absolutely brilliant, and I'm amazed that Iceland of all places was the first nation to do this.

I'm not, the Althing (Icelandic Parliament) is the oldest parliament in the world.

liah wrote: »

What do you guys think? Would you support something similar for Ireland? It's obvious the idiots in there right now are incapable, and I'm not sure how big a difference any other party could make. There's some glaring holes in the constitution and much of the current system is still stuck in last century.

I reckon it'll be very interesting to follow what happens with this. This could set a precedent and turn a lot of things around. Or, it could go horribly, horribly wrong and set the nation back another 50 years.

Guess we'll wait and see!

I'd like to see something like this but can see the establishment fighting tooth and nail to avoid it. As for the horribly wrong thing - FF have been doing a great job of selling this country into debt.

Yakult

I'll run for Minister of Drugs.

If theirs ever been a time to Legalise Cannabis, its now. Some revenue would be created along with tourists coming here.

stovelid

I would expect that there is a big a chance of people "off the street" being cunts as elected representatives.

rossie1977

Terry wrote: »

One of the most rabid of the protestors shown on sky news is a regular drug abuser. I know him. He regularly boasts about his drug abuse on facebook.
I don't want any of these people having any say in how this country is run.

he might just be the guy we need beethoven was an alcoholic while hitler need touched drugs in his life, never smoked, drank, never ate meat and was a practising catholic

epgc3fyqirnbsx

A constitution, and law in general, is such a fine balancing act that you can't just throw down a load of good ideas and say let's build it from here.
As was said it is incredibly complicated

But I suppose it is kind of different when you have a fully established country writing a new constitution so it may be of some benefit to get a good cross section of a population to contribute as to how they would feel on certain topics.
If you look at the Irish constitution you can see that there are different sections and this structure should be drawn by the drafters and perhaps on a contentious issue can put it to these people. But there should certainly be more than 31 for a good cross section

And if you took out some of the religious references and the start differentiating between men and women in our constitution it actually isn't all that bed and is quite organic compared to a lot

bonerjams03

I've said it once and I'll say it again, people are idiots, this could be a disaster.

No respect to a 'Truck Driver', but how in God's name does he have the legislative know how to craft a constitution, I'm sure there will be help on hand but still!