Policymakers should consult the public before making decisions,
says an article in People's Daily. The following is an
excerpt:
The revised holiday plan has been officially promulgated on the
back of efforts to sound out the public's thoughts on the issue.
The respect shown to the public opinion in the process of revising
the holiday plan is of unique significance to democracy
building.
The authorities conducted comprehensive research during the
initial phase of the reform plan. When a draft of the plan was
completed, it was released to the public to solicit opinions. The
public showed great enthusiasm for the process - 1.5 million
netizens voted on it, suggesting that civil society is on the rise.
The public's active voice ensured that the revision of holiday plan
was not confined to "holiday economics", but focused more on
"traditional culture" and "social equality".
In the era of diversified interests, any effort to revise a
national policy that involves the wellbeing of all citizens, such
as the abolition of the seven-day May Day holiday, will naturally
unleash diverse points of view. The important thing is to build up
a smooth channel of communication between the government and the
people, allowing for timely exchanges of views.
And the release of the official revision of the holiday plan did
not mark the end of efforts to interact with the public by
government bodies such as the National Development and Reform
Commission. Their actions showed that although no policy will
satisfy the hopes of all people, the decision-makers honored
people's right to know and express themselves.
There was no shortage of critical voices, some of them even
radical, in the public debate on the policy revision. Such voices
enjoyed a relatively cozy environment for expression, which not
only reflected how open the government is, but also how civil
society has matured.
Of course, the process for circulating points of view on policy
issues can always be improved. And if online public opinion surveys
could be more scientific, if a broader accounting of public opinion
could be obtained and if the period of public debate extended, then
the process will be much smoother the next time the people are
called on to express opinions on policy.
People may one day forget the debate over whether the May Day
holiday should be abolished, but we cannot forget that the quality
of public decision-making has been greatly improved.
(China Daily December 19, 2007)