According to this Hansard Report, 57% of people may choose not to participate in Democracy, 40% of them blaming lack of time as the reason.
Interactive Democracy, with a web, text or phone based IT infrastructure, makes it very quick and easy to participate. It empowers and motivates voters. But it can also make democracy very effective at a local level (assuming postcodes are used to identify a voters location). For example, if you want more bin collections you can vote for it; if you want a new speed limit on your street, you can vote for it; if you want a salt bin at the top of the hill, you can vote for it. You can even knock on your neighbours doors and encourage them to vote for your petition. This isn't the Ya-Boo politics that may alienate some, but the practical local policies that can make a meaningful difference to communities, and it may breed renewed interest and involvement in National or international politics.
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