REPLY TO
The Hansard Society response
http://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/node/view/502
to the report Power to the People http://www.powerinquiry.org/

You write "Our research shows that the future of democracy does not lie
in substituting mechanisms of ‘direct democracy’ for representative
institutions. Far from giving power to marginalised and excluded groups,
such a step would in reality amplify the voices of a narrow elite who
are already adept at making their views heard"

In some countries quite similar to ours direct democracy has been used
for many years and majorities want to keep it. Direct democracy, such as
citizens' law proposal, does not substitute indirect ("representative")
democracy but is combined -- productively -- with it.

Please send us the evidence for your statement "Far from giving power to
marginalised and excluded groups, such a step would in reality amplify
the voices of a narrow elite who are already adept at making their views
heard" giving references to scientific papers if you have them.

Regards
Michael Macpherson

Citizens' Initiative and Referendum I&R
a campaign for direct democracy in Britain
http://www.iniref.org/