Evaluative Democracy Lethbridge Presentation

Key Points from Audience Feedback/Discussion (Lethbridge Public Library, July 12, 2007):

Need Paradigm shift---(no transition to more democratic, fairer system)

Political influence and manipulation by the private sector via dominant parties, mainstream media, corporations, is the main problem with the current western political system.
The solution will minimize political influence and manipulation. Are Citizen Evaluation Committees enough? What is to stop private media from influencing and manipulating the voting public within Evaluative Democracy?
(Solution—Independent Evaluative Democracy—Independent candidates only, no political parties, no voting.) Types of Evaluative Democracy

No testing of candidates for citizen evaluation committees. Allow all people to have opportunity to get on committees. Evaluations are not that complex. (Counter--Most reasons for evaluation not weighted the same; evaluations require intelligence; evaluations can be complex; testing of candidates will ensure: committees are productive, members have basic competency in evaluation, and committees produce better quality of result.)

Citizen Evaluation Committees to increase their knowledge base, can call on experts to share information, if required.

Need model of a new system from municipal to federal to international institutions. Models of Evaluative Democracy

How can collective interest be defined on a provincial/state, national, or international levels? (Each level of government has responsible area; universal human needs and rights help define collective interest.)