I disagree that direct-democracy is less suitable for our time Pericles, if anything it is more suitable because the systems of education and information about world events are advanced enough that people can participate in a referendum with enough wisdom to understand the extent of the issues- although the first generation of internet users haven't grasped the powers they have at all and just use it to vent ignorance regurgitated from their favourite Murdoch outlet or pop culture mag, future generations will likely be more active now that they actually grew up with the internet (and likely got used to it at a younger age than they would begin to take news programs/newspapers into their lives).

A considerable democratic flaw in the representative system is that even in an actually logical system of representatives (eg directly-elected ministers), the representatives are a package deal of policies that many might be desparate for but also policies which many would find repugnant against other mixed bags, and the supposed accountability AND constituency wishes are compromised based on how badly the voters need policy A vs how otherwise horrible B is (or of course, the fact that the politicians can be crooked if they're the only people that even put policy A on the table).
Not to mention election-promise accountability only covers issues that were raised before the election.

We do need a new party that does not take corporate funds.Labor will lose the next election.I must say,they certainly live up to our expectations.

The biggest issue we all fail to confront,is Govt waste,nepotism and corruption.The schools building debacle bears witness to this.This is how our Govts State and Federal,operate on a daily basis.Why give them more so they can build more urinals to relieve us of our tax dollars?

Ron Paul's ideas of getting rid of many Govt Depts has merit.Why do we need Dept of Education,or Social Security? They become self serving monoliths that suck the life blood out of real productivity and wealth.

After the next election when Labor loses,I will be looking keenly for a new political force that actually represents workers.

HI Davrosz

I read your post and thought I'd died and gone to heaven !

Specially after Pericles pessimism.

//I think that we can as a race, under the right conditions, exercise the restraint and wisdom necessary to be able to stop ourselves from ransacking the public purse and to be able to negotiate rather than try to stamp out all objection. //

Mate... sorry, but Pericles description is EXACTLY how most people vote... I've thought about rocking up to a Ford Broadmeadows worker and ask him "If you had one party wanting to tax you more for global warming, and another which would give you a $20/week pay rise..which would you vote for"?

errrr.. I think we both know the outcome.

The tragedy of the Australian working class is that it cannot see the connection (yet) between constant demands for "Better wages and conditions" and the employer relocating to China. Unionists have been very persuasive "Well get you MORE"..and people are suckers.

This is why Political parties use sweeping slogans

"Improved" (Name the service)
"More" (good stuff)
"Less" (name the bad stuff)

They are trying to scratch the hip pocket/convenience nerve.

For a rare occasion..Pericles is 100% spot on.. pity he cannot apply that rationality to other areas of discussion.

But he in fact demonstrates why political parties use 'broad slogans'.

In some things Pericles is entirely reasonable and rational..but push the right buttons and he transforms into the evil "Dr Perilous"

True Democracy ? well it already is 'true'..people vote for who will give them the best deal. For some the best deal might not be economic.

Davrosz ..you might find this diagram interesting:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Athenian-constitution-aristotle.png

WOOPS... Pericles.. that one almost slipped through to the keeper..

//We are now sufficiently civilized not to consider revolution a valid political statement, true.//

You just 'morphed' into Perilous.

http://www.sa.org.au/abc-of-socialism/2747-why-we-need-a-revolution-to-get-socialism

28/5/2010

Only a revolution by the mass of workers which mobilises their collective power can sweep aside the machinery of capitalism, and only the process of revolution has the potential to equip workers – by providing them with the experience, lessons and unity – to build socialism, a society for the liberation of all.

It seems Pericles.. your message has not caught up with one group at least.

//A vote that is attempted contrary to an expressed election commitment would simply not be counted.//

That does have merit.

But your reference to 'obscure ancient documents' is a bit dubious.
how dare you present such things for our serious consideration :)
I'd never do that.....would I?

Though if I did..they would be a heck of a lot better attested than the ones you referred to.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle#Loss_and_preservation_of_his_works

//Current knowledge of what exactly the exoteric writings were like is scant and dubious, though many of them may have been in dialogue form. (Fragments of some of Aristotle's dialogues have survived.)//

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=10532#173150

Pericles, dim view, but you don't offer any alternatives, electoral reforms, declare which minor party you vote support?

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=10532#173162

davrosz, positive, but still, no offers on electoral reform, a minor party worth supporting?

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=10532#173167

Forkes, he was wrong, about the senate, there has been stalemate for the last 2 years, when the http://www.democrats.org.au/ held the balance of power, they negotiated reasonable amendments and almost all legislation passed.

The Major Mistakes always took "bipartisan approach" to any new, "third force" it was not just Pauline Hanson, the http://www.democrats.org.au/ & every other new party making some headway has also been destroyed. This has been going on since 1945 that i have seen or researched.

Also at the moment, the conservatives & Red/greens have been obstructionary, but the government has also refused to be reasonable with Xenophon & Fielding, so it is just as much, getup/labour's fault as anybody else's.

Sad to see you insulting our military & police who are good people doing a difficult job.

Good to see you realising that our, so called leaders are in fact our enemies. The Red/green/getup/labour coalition are of course the worst, having been promoting policies, designed by our Communist enemies, to abuse children, to weaken our entire culture & economy.

Sadly over the last 5 decades it has been working perfectly. In 1955, child abuse was almost non existent, we had full employment, our economy was dominated by small & medium sized business.

Now child abuse is a state sponsored national sport, we have a permanent long term unemployed under class & big or foreign owned business dominates.

Largely because of the Evil, Red/green/getup/labour coalition.

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=10532#173169

Leigh, again i tend to agree with your gloomy outlook, but it has been improving over the last decade. Largely because of forums like this one, OLO is one of the most influential political, news, current affairs, web sites in OZ.

I think caring people like yourself, on this article & others could get an Australian Themed, "Tea Party" Movement off the ground, here in OZ. I suggest, "Cracker Night" 5 November 1605, Guy Fawkes night.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night

Ancient Greek democracy also had a system of ostracising politicians from Office by the Public before the end of their tenure, if the didn't perform. Some Greek City-Sttates (not Athens?) would en-panel citizens as representatives (like we do with juries) to sit for a term to break-up the formation of parties.