OPINION: Time to seriously consider direct democracy

In 1971, Jackson’s population was approximately 154,000 and soared to approximately 203,000 by 1980. Between the 1980 census and today, however, there has been a steady decline, such that today the population is approximately 143,000. Much of the decline is due to “white flight.” Another important factor has been the out-migration of middle- and upper-income Black citizens.

In the wake of these shifts during the past half century, Jackson has experienced the closure of a dozen or so public schools, representing the loss of much of its youth potential and creating eyesores. Many of the buildings sit idle, crumbling and deteriorating. (Simultaneously, state leaders began siphoning-off public school funds to support private schools, which they have dubbed “public charter schools.”) In addition to the schools, many former homes and businesses also sit idle. Meanwhile, the quality and quantity of services have declined due to Jackson’s shrinking tax base.

Additionally, during this same time span, the state legislature has initiated efforts to transfer the department of revenue, the bureau of vital statistics, the state crime lab, and the highway safety patrol out of the city of Jackson. That same body has passed legislation to take control of the city’s water and sewage system, its international airport, and to intervene in the local police and court system with the Capitol Police and court.

These things happened as city officials, led most vigorously by former Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba (elected in 2017) and other mayors, have usually objected, and as citizens helplessly watched. These things happened primarily because of racism, or the ideology of white supremacy, following the pattern and lead of the Trump administration.

It would be no surprise to see state leaders pursuing control of other city services and facilities. Nor would it be surprising to see further attacks on the city, including on its officials through investigations and indictments. Jackson is under attack because it is a “blue city,” led by Black officials.

Because that reality is no secret to Jackson’s observing and concerned citizens, there should be broad, loud calls by citizens for more grassroots or direct democracy. In junior high school civics and high school government classes, we learned that while America established what is called a representative or indirect democracy, there have existed in some societies, direct democracies. That could help Jackson in times like these.

The late Chokwe Lumumba, who also served as Mayor in 2013, popularized the idea of convening “peoples’ assemblies.” These are different from what are called town hall meetings, which have been held by many officials, including city council members. 

The peoples’ assemblies enable residents to introduce ideas/issues for discussion and recommend actions to be taken, with recorded votes taken, which then can be transmitted to the relevant official(s). Town hall meetings, on the other hand, are generally called by officials to explain their actions and policies more than to hear about citizens’ issues.

While our representatives may be doing a good job, they may not always have a handle on or expertise in every issue, may have other pressing priorities at the moment, and/or could use the publicly-expressed support on the matter(s). 

Such peoples’ assemblies need not replace any town hall meetings that officials care to call. It’s that the peoples’ assemblies would be a sure way for citizens to get their ideas/issues before the public and before the officials. They could and should be brought up in their most pristine forms, by the citizens themselves, not having as their base any official’s personal or partisan bias or agenda.

As we observe the negative trends associated with what’s happening in Jackson and to Jackson, we believe it is time to seriously consider implementing different forms of direct democracy, whether we call them peoples’ assemblies or some other name.