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You will be asked lots of questions about CAs. Here are answers to help you, and some sample answers for spokespeople.
1. We already have politicians that have been elected, why do we need citizens’ assemblies as well?
Governments have had over 40 years to act on this emergency but they have not done nearly enough. The current political system is unable to come up with the radical, long term solutions that are needed in the face of the CEE. So we need a different way of finding solutions.
The climate and ecological crisis cannot be solved by one or several political parties, which in our current system are focused on competing and winning elections. We need the whole country, not just 51%, behind the significant changes which will have to be made in our economy and society. The assembly can support the politicians by advising on what ordinary citizens think should be done for the benefit of the whole country, not this or that political party or ideological platform. (A UK-WIDE CITIZENS’ ASSEMBLY CAN HELP ENHANCE REPRESENTATION FOR THE GENERAL POPULATION)
Sample answer - The reality is that the current political system hasn’t been able to tackle the climate emergency to the extent that we need. CAs are a way to help politicians make the decisions that are needed. It’s about having a grown up conversation in which people are informed, they deliberate, they listen and learn, and they come up with recommendations that are solution oriented.
2. Isn’t this just mob rule?
Citizens’ assemblies are certainly no mob - they’re a balanced group of people who are given the space, time and support they need to come up with well-reasoned recommendations. They will be discussing and working with each other around tables in a collaborative manner. (TAPPING INTO THE CAPACITY AND AGENCY THAT EXISTS IN THE POPULATION).
We want to stress that the citizens’ assemblies won’t rule anything, they will provide recommendations. (MUCH STRONGER MESSAGE IF YOU HAVE A GROUP BRINGING REPRESENTATION) It’s worth reflecting that currently we have rule by media barons and rich donors, who have too much influence and power over politicians and political parties. (CHANGING THE CONVERSATION TO BRING ABOUT CULTURAL CHANGE)
Sample answer - It’s not a mob, it’s an informed group selected by sortition. It’s not rule - it’s recommendations. Mob rule is a 'knee jerk reaction', uniformed and not calmly considered, and often a result of frustration. CAs are about bringing disparate and wide-ranging views to the table in a collaborative process to find common ground. Citizens assemblies are carefully curated, they have well established protocols in how they are run.
3. The average person doesn’t know what they’re talking about, they shouldn’t be allowed to make decisions By the end of the citizens’ assembly process those people will know a lot more than the average MP about the issues involved. Presentations from experts and the chance to ask questions. (LEARNING IS A CENTRAL PART OF THE PROCESS) Facilitated discussion amongst themselves and the time to reflect. Remember that our members of parliament are rarely experts on many of the issues they are faced with. (MPs TOO BUSY TO GET TO GRIPS WITH SOMETHING AT A LEVEL OF TRUE UNDERSTANDING) Past CAs have shown that ordinary citizens are perfectly able to understand complex issues and can come up with fair and just solutions that work for the common good.
Sample answer - Many of our current cabinet are looking after portfolios that they have zero experience in. It’s unlikely they would get jobs in the fields that they are tasked with overseeing … so in this light it’s not fair to say the average person knows nothing … A key aspect of CAs is ensuring that participants have adequate knowledge and understanding of the issues to be discussed. That is why learning is placed at the forefront of proceedings. As John Long, who was a member of the Irish CA said, “we’re probably the best informed amateurs in the country on this topic at the moment.”
4. These assemblies will be dominated by retired busy-bodies and loud people
The selection process (known as sortition) is specifically designed to ensure this doesn’t happen.
The assembly membership is a representation of our society. To ensure inclusivity, people who may find it difficult to attend will be given support to make them feel able to take part. The assembly will be run by trained facilitators to ensure that everyone gets a fair chance to speak and the meeting is run in an inclusive manner. Currently the country is run by the 1% with enormous power. In a CA, they will only present 1% of the assembly.
Sample answer - The beauty of the CA selection process is that the final group has to be diverse, it has to broadly represent the population as a whole, and there are very careful structures and processes to ensure that one segment of the population doesn't dominate.
5. The recommendations will all end up being written by politically motivated interest groups. What about people like me? What about the silent majority?
The selection process ensures that people from different walks of life are present, and those people are given the opportunity to speak.
It may even be you in the assembly, but if it’s not, it will be someone in a similar position to you. The recommendations are made by the group for the good of all society - and you are part of that society! Assembly recommendations need to be fair and just - that means including everyone. The citizens’ assembly process gives the reasoning and justification behind recommendations made, so we can all understand.
We are all different - we’ve all got something different and useful to bring to these meetings. (COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE)
Sometimes there will be recommendations from the citizens’ assembly that you don’t agree with. Unfortunately that often happens in life - when was the last time you agreed with every decision a government made whilst in power? However, citizens’ assemblies are our best chance of us arriving at a unifying decision.
Sample answer - I’m hearing that you have concern that you’ll be made to do something by people you don't know. Well depending on your political persuasion you’ll be living with laws and regulations that were introduced by governments that you didn't vote for. This is a normal feature of life in a democracy. The advantage of a CA is that participants will be acting in the common good … and I would suggest that people from different walks of life, no matter their political allegiance, will be concerned about what happens if laws and regulations aren't changed to help solve this crisis.
6. Politicians will just ignore the results, like they always do. It’ll be a waste of time and money.
Sadly politicians have a track record for ignoring experts, the people, and sensible recommendations - that’s partly why we have the problems we do. Before the CA starts it is important there is an agreement made publicly with the government about how recommendations will be implemented. It is also key that the public and politicians alike are aware of what CAs are, how they work, why they are useful. Plus everyone in the country must know this CA is taking place and why it is so important - creating public pressure. (PUBLICITY IS CRUCIAL FOR A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME) If those commitments are not honoured, it will cause public outrage.
Sample answer - You know what, we share your concern. Politicians have a very poor track record in this regard. In a way, it shows why we need a citizen’s assembly because politicians need help in making the right decisions. We also need a commitment from them that they will respond to the recommendations, and that they will take seriously any recommendations that have assembly support. It’s our role as citizens to continue holding them to account.
7. What if the citizens’ assembly comes back with something really stupid? Like Boaty McBoatface? Are you going to support that recommendation?
Citizens’ assemblies are a highly respected method of bringing people together, giving them the information they need and allowing them to make sensible decisions. Given the importance of the subject we have faith that our fellow citizens will take these meetings very seriously. There have already been numerous CAs on climate that have come up with good, serious recommendations.
There may be recommendations that XR doesn’t agree with, and in that case we will have to abide with the recommendations of the assembly. It’s not like governments haven’t come up with stupid ideas and implemented them … (eg Iraq War, other examples?)
Sample answer - One of the main reasons XR is in favour of CAs is because they are a highly effective way to engage people in a process where the collective intelligence of the group comes to the forefront. The research on CAs and deliberative processes in general confirms this. Therefore we have confidence and trust in our fellow citizens' ability to come up with recommendations that are fair and just, and developed with the best interest of the common good at their core.
8. Is XR trying to change the government? I thought they were interested in climate change?
The CA will provide recommendations to the existing political system, they are not seeking to replace it. A CA enhances the system.
Sample answer - Our concern is climate change and the ecological emergency, the impact it is having on the planet and the world’s population. Our demands do not include nor require a change of government. What XR wants is for the people to be involved in making the decisions that are going to have major effects on their own lives.The way to do this, we believe, is through a UK-wide Citizens' Assembly on Climate and Ecological Justice
9. Our current system isn’t perfect but it does get things done. We shouldn’t interfere - better the devil you know
Our current system is stuck and the clock is ticking. Scientists tell us that we need to take action, and quickly. If our current system was working we would be seeing real action on the CEE. We change things all the time in our democracies and in our lives - law, regulations, committees and bureaucracy. We believe this change may make a big difference. The political system as we have it today also has not been around forever - change is happening all the time.
Sample answer - What springs to mind is the saying ‘If it ain't broke, dont fix it.’ The problem is that it is broken … certainly in respect of the climate and ecological emergency we are facing … the science is overwhelming - this is a life or death issue … we’re not suggesting replacing the current system but we are suggesting improving it … in business one of the maxims is ‘never a right way, never a wrong way, always a better way…’ so we’re talking here about making changes for the better … and you know we change things all the time, particularly in the field of human health and wellbeing … we went from smoking in pubs to not smoking in pubs … we went from not wearing seatbelts in cars to making them compulsory … once upon a time people could drink and drive - now it’s a serious offence … so we make changes all the time … it is a constant of everyday life … so all we’re asking for is a change here that will allow us to find the solutions we need …
10. What sort of things are recommended by these assemblies?
Previous CAs on climate like the ones in France, the UK, and Scotland have come up with some concrete recommendations, such as: France:
- Develop alternative modes of transport other than the private car
- To adopt an ecocide law
- Climate Assembly UK:
- Call for government leadership – working across political parties
- Independent, neutral monitoring and reporting on net zero progress
- Much more transparency in the relationship between big energy companies and the government, due to concerns over lobbying and influence.
- Get to net zero without pushing our emissions elsewhere in the world.
- A robust media strategy on the outcomes of the assembly.
Scotland's Climate Assembly:
- Tax high carbon resources
- Retrofit all existing homes by 2030
- Decarbonise heating by 2030
- Public transport cheaper or free
11. What you’re proposing is anti-democratic, these people aren't elected?
Citizens' assemblies are a discipline of deliberative democracy, which is one of the earliest forms of democracy practised in ancient Greece, regarded by many as the birthplace of democracy. The word democracy means people rule, democracy doesn't mean elections. It means deciding together, which can be done through a CA.
Sample answer - I’m really glad you raised that, because this is such an important point. The idea that citizens' assemblies are anti-democratic doesn't stack up when we look at the history of democracy. Randomly sorted (sortition) deliberative democracy was one of the earliest forms of democracy used in ancient Greece, which is considered the birthplace of democracy. It’s just that we’re not familiar with this form of democracy because most democratic systems use a form of representative democracy, electoral politics as we know it. It is rule by the people, for the people. What we have now is rule by representatives of the people, but they do not necessarily represent the people at all. Most of us didn't even vote for them. It's a mistake to equate 'elections' as democracy. Democracy is much more than that and needs engagement of the people, not just once every so many years at the ballot box.
12. Would the CA be legally binding, will the recommendations be required by law to be implemented?
The recommendations forthcoming from a CA are not legally binding, because it would involve change in law - a process that is long and counterproductive at this moment in time. There must be an upfront agreement on what the government will do with the recommendations and explain any recommendations they don't implement.
In the end pressure from the public will be the a major influencing factor on persuading government to take up the recommendations
13. After the CA is over, who checks that something actually happens with the recommendations?
- An oversight body composed of members of the CA could and should be created to monitor the government's progress. This oversight body should be decided on during the CA.
- The media.
- The people
14. The citizens in the CA aren't elected so they are not accountable, so is it morally right that they should be allowed to make these decisions?
The issue of accountability is an important one. Let’s be clear though, citizens are making recommendations in an effort to solve a crisis. Is it morally right to let things go on as they are?
Politicians are clearly not being held accountable in our current system either. Given the behaviour and track record of many politicians when they enter office, it is clear that the power of the ballot box is far more limited than people believe. If accountability were truly present in our public life, we wouldn't be in this mess. Election promises are consistently broken and changed.