Earlier in the week the Occupy Isle of Wight group wrote to Isle of Wight MP, Andrew Turner. They copied us in (see below) and we hear that in response to the letter, Andrew Turner has agreed to meet the group. We’ll let you know how they get on. Ed
Dear Mr Turner,
Re: Proposal to Encourage Active Involvement by Constituents in the Political Process
Thank you for your attendance at our rally on November 5th, 2011. We are delighted that you engaged with our campaigners and particularly that you posed the question asking how we, your constituents, can be more actively involved in the political process. This is our response.
The consensus process
First, we’d like to share our experience of the “consensus process” – the method employed at Occupy meetings around the globe that facilitates the most beautiful form of active participation in the decision-making process.
Each participant is actively involved and each encouraged to have their say, so each individual knows their voice and opinions have been heard and each feels included in this way. For this reason, the process feels empowering for every individual who participates and is democracy in action at the grass roots level, democracy at its’ most pure – a breath of fresh air at a time when so many of us, the vox populi, feel disempowered and disengaged from the political process.
Engage the public
Many among us feel our representatives nationwide do not represent the voices of their constituents, that the majority go along with the party line but, we thank you for going against the grain in the recent EU referendum vote in this regard.
We firmly believe that incorporating “the consensus process” into the mainstream political process will better engage the public in the decisions that affect their lives and hope to see it happen first here on the Isle of Wight thereby making you a pioneer amongst your peers.
Wider transparency
We propose that forthcoming parliamentary debates be published on your website and in the County Press – an initiative that would allow all constituents the opportunity to debate the issues on the table and consult with you ahead of time – and thereby helping ensure that you incorporate constituents’ views and opinions into the debates at the House of Commons.
Our suggestion is that this be done in simple rolling calendar form supported by a polling facility such as seen on You Tube.
The calendar would list the debates ahead of time and the polling facility (including a space for brief comments on the issue) will allow you to gauge your constituents stance at a glance.
We would like to arrange a meeting with you to discuss this idea and its implementation in more depth at your very earliest convenience.
Yours sincerely,
Occupy Isle of Wight
Image: © Jenny Lynn Walker
