'Legislative procedures' Politics

Legislative procedures

With the current uncertainties about the proposed new taxes and financial disclosures which seem to have upset some of us northerners, it occurred to me how differently such sensitive matters are dealt with in the north.

In most northern states, a draft of any new proposal by a minister of finance is usually first run past a number of expert lawyers, accountants, international tax experts etc before being discussed by the cabinet or its equivalent. Such proposals are then checked out in confidence with representatives of major players to see whether they can see any major problems with it. After that, its usual to leak (in a deniable manner) some of the more controversial aspects to the newspapers to see whether outrage or possibly civil disorder might result and the proposed law is only published officially after that.

Does anyone know whether there is a reason why these things are done so differently here?

That may or may not be what happens with the selection of politicians (I haven't been here long enough to judge fairly) but it doesn't explain the differences in procedure.

The northern system is done as it is to avoid financial panic and rumours as well as to avoid politicians suffering eggy faces if there are major defects with their proposals.

I was just wondering why it is done differently here.

The first thing you learn as a small child in school is that unlike other countries the political system in the United States is based on complete openness!

For only with complete openness could the citizens fairly and completely participate in the political process!

A smart and informed population would not be in fear of laws when they are first proposed but rather be delighted to be part of the process from the moment the legislation is a mere thought in their minds of their elected officials all the way through and to the point of it becoming a law.

You must not be referring to the United States when you describe a process where proposed laws are kept secret and only partially leaked shortly before they are enacted!

Oh, sorry. I had a memory lapse. I now remember that the general population of the US is too stupid to hold a valid opinion on a proposed law because they haven't had official training as a politician.

What is wrong with the openness of the legislative process? The only real question is how well the people participate in it. Are they mere spectators or actual participants?

We can only hope that it's done with a progressive global mentality, fair and with benefits for the Uruguayan economy and it's residents.

Promoting investment from investors that after they make the numbers, will realize that in the scale of comparisons with other countries Uruguay is best.

It was a Pitcher, "Irish" Tug Mcgraw (he son is a famous Country singer) from my favorite Baseball Team (The Mets) who after every game said "You gotta believe" they went to become Champions.

I'm not making judgements about right or wrong... I just wonder why things are done so differently here when compared with elsewhere. I'm a volunteer resident so its not for me to criticise the chosen method of creating new laws... I just find it difficult to understand the reasons why it is done how it is done.

I could understand the differences if new proposals were released into some sort of consultative framework where those affected could submit their views for consideration by the legislature along the lines of participative democracy... but unless I'm missing something, this doesn't seem to be the case.

What is wrong with the openness of the legislative process? maybe not open enough and with nobody from the Government (at least one) who can give you the same answer today or tomorrow.

The good thing about your approach is that you are not an spectator your a participant and I hope you never stop because in a progressive society people should be open to listening to new ideas.

When we moved from New York to Florida we heard a lot "We don't care how you did it up North" at least in NY they know how to vote.

Don't give up and keep volunteering and help young people to better themselves they are the most important "riqueza natural".

Apparently the panic that can ensue when an idea is proposed in unrefined form is not seen as a problem? Hard to believe. (Is there really no negative consequence to a politician for making ill-thought-out proposals, and having to backtrack from his own words?)

OR, perhaps the locals understand, from long experience, that early proposals will eventually be honed into a form that is more-or-less palatable to the populace, and it's only foreigners and outside observers who take an initial proposal so literally. (In which case, Uruguay will need to decide whether it needs to start taking into account global reactions to its proposals.)

OR, a more cynical view might be that it's a good strategy to make an initial proposal in an extreme and frightening form, so that when it is eventually toned down, people will sigh with relief that it wasn't as bad as first thought, instead of evaluating it on its own merits. (It's an established Machiavellian strategy.)

OR, an even MORE cynical view is that the whole display is for show, "theater" for the public's benefit, to create convenient scapegoats and red herrings, and the real story going on behind the scenes has nothing to do with the picture that is painted for our benefit.

It's a nice idea that in an open and participatory democratic society, the legislative process begins with a somebody tossing out a rough idea that is then discussed and refined by everyone (rather than behind closed doors), but that doesn't seem to fit with what's actually happening here. But maybe it is and I'm just missing something.

I really don't see the difference. Of course if you have in mind big countries with tens or hundreds million people, and huge Ministerios with hundreds or thousands of staff technitians you have to land your expectations in Uruguay. Anyway, sometimes quantity or staff curricula don't warrant the better results either.

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