From Stanley Perkins.
RECENTLY I was sent an article from the Times of 10 April 2008 headlined ‘Democracy arrives 80 miles off Britain’. It was a report on Sark’s new 28-member elected chamber.

Several days later, dreaming about democracy in my birthplace, Jersey, the following ideas passed through my mind.

• The elected States Members all had the courage, commitment and democratic vision to hold a referendum on a new form of government.

• The 40 new States Members would all be Deputies or Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), elected at the same time for a term of four years, with each member representing about 2,250 electors depending upon the boundaries.

• Each Deputy would hold community meetings periodically to discuss community concerns with constituents.

• The electors would have the opportunity to vote for a political party which had been established through a party conference with a clearly articulated set of policies. Further, the duly elected leader of the party, in making election promises to the electorate, would be held accountable for implementing the policy espoused and for discharging ministers who did not follow party policy.

• Like most parliamentary assemblies throughout the world, the elected States Members would elect their own speaker.

Then I awoke from my dream. I realised that such an outcome is too idealistic and not very realistic in a world in which politicians are more concerned with their personal power than doing what is democratically proper for their community.
1824 Hillcrest Avenue,
Victoria,
British Columbia,
Canada.