#democraticinstitutions — Public Fediverse posts

Chrystia Freeland Warns America: Democracy Is on Life Support as Canada Moves On

Chrystia Freeland says U.S. democracy is on life support as Canada diversifies trade and Trump’s policies drive longtime democratic allies away.

This is very concerning and goes to the heart of #Democracy and what is meant by the term.
—-Quote
1 hour ago 11.58 AEST

Secrecy bid from some of the most powerful covert operatives in Australia – senior bureaucrats
Bill Browne

Earlier this year, an Australia Institute freedom of information (FOI) request revealed that the Attorney-General’s Department had been holding back information from the public.

Their apparent motive was to escape tricky questions at Senate Estimates, the rare opportunity that democratically elected representatives get to ask questions of government officials.

Now, the secretaries who head government departments are suggesting footage from Senate Estimates should not even make it online.

In a parliamentary submission, the Secretaries Board (departmental heads) have suggested either preventing the use of committee evidence on social media altogether, or requiring committee evidence to be published without editing or captions.

They complain that public servants have been accused of “‘hiding’ things, ‘covering up’ for the government, or ‘being a liar’.”

The problem, of course, is that senior public servants do sometimes hide things and cover up – not just for the government, but to serve their own interests as well. Departments spend time and money training public servants to dodge Estimates questions. And when they do so, ridicule (though never abuse) is an appropriate response.

Last year, then Australian Public Service Commissioner Gordon de Brouwer said public servants were writing their “genuine thoughts” on Post It notes so they could never become public knowledge. The Public Service Commissioner is supposed to be the “steward” of public service integrity, but it took senators to remind him that this was an illegal breach of the public service’s obligation to keep accurate records.

Public service delegations at Senate Estimates are generally fronted by deputy secretaries or secretaries. They are the elite 0.1% of the public service, in sought-after roles of significant power and influence. It is entirely appropriate that they are subjected to public scrutiny.

In other words, there is a power imbalance when a senator questions a secretary or deputy secretary – but it is the public servant who likely wields much more power than the senator and is invariably paid more.

Of course, parliamentary questioning is not always kind or constructive. There are politicians who could do better on social media. But Senate Estimates is a key accountability mechanism for these organisations and the executive government more generally. So long as public servants deliberately hide information, open questioning will remain a necessity so the public can find out what is being done in their name.”
https://live.thepoint.com.au/#8fe433f938

#AusPol #PublicService #Transparancy #Accountability #DemocraticInstitutions #LiveParliamentaryEnquiries #TheRightToKnow #ChecksAndBalances #WestminsterSystem
#Polliticians #PoliticalAppointees

I must confess that the auhor *Lost* me when he advocated for major increases in the remuneration of politicians based on the falsifiable premise that higher salaries attracts more competent *managers*. False premises and undisclosed assumptions is the killer blow to any quazy-academic postulate, and the author fell for both of them IMO.

Happy to be criticized for my review.

#Managerialism #Politics #NeoLiberalism #FinancialDeregulation #RiskManagement #Cronyism #Corruption #RevolvingDoors #DemocraticInstitutions #MeritoriousMediocrity

Home - CBSNews.com | Pope Leo's encyclical warning about AI rocks tech industry

AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information.

Pope Leo XIV has issued his first encyclical, boldly warning that artificial intelligence poses significant risks to humanity. The document, which has sparked widespread discussion across the tech sector, cautions against unchecked AI development and urges ethical safeguards, a stance highlighted in a CBS News report by Chris Livesay.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/video/pope-leos-encyclical-warning-about-ai-rocks-tech-industry/

#PopeLeo #Vatican #AI #techindustry #democraticinstitutions #ChrisLivesay

Friday, December 12, 2025

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/12/friday-december-12-2025/

"The government is introducing one bill after another, adding to other measures dictated by the same logic: to weaken our #democraticInstitutions and silence critical voices capable of expressing legitimate disagreements and defending the rights of all, including the most disadvantaged, marginalized, and discriminated-against minorities." This could said about govt throughout #Canada. https://breachmedia.ca/caq-waging-war-on-civil-society/

#dissent #advocacy #cdnpoli #equality #humanRights #abpoli #quebec #onpoli #skpoli

"There’s a certain dark irony in watching tech #billionaires who built their empires on the “democratizing power of technology” now actively working to dismantle #democraticinstitutions. The same figures who once championed #connection and #openness are now the architects of the most dangerous centralization of power in modern history."

https://www.techdirt.com/2025/04/17/the-de-in-decentralization-stands-for-democracy/

“#Trump poses a serious #threat to our nation. We can’t have a #felon representing us on the #national stage, let alone one who would threaten to abandon #NATO & ruin our standing abroad.

“We are in a moment that only happens once every few generations, when we have to defend #democracy, & stand up for the right to #vote & our #CivilRights. It is essential that we proceed in a manner that strengthens, rather than diminishes, public confidence in our #DemocraticInstitutions.

#Harris2024

@csmonitor @world-csmonitor Until the “west” is “all-in” on supporting #ukraine the worst that Putin can do is a draw. And that’s not good enough if you are a supporter of #democracy and #democraticinstitutions

Haiti has been plunged into a lawless state of widespread gang warfare, disease, and hunger: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/10/haiti-no-elected-officials-anarchy-failed-state

#haiti #guardian #theguardian #disease #cholera #hunger #malnutrition #gangs #gangwarfare #democracy #democraticinstitutions #anarchy #haiti #luketaylor