The Agenda with Steve Paikin: Judy Rebick: Technocrat Tyranny? (http://ww3.tvo.org/video/175379/judy-rebick-technocrat-tyranny)
tvo (TV Ontario) – March 30, 2012

The Agenda Podcast Episodes (original: http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-agenda-steve-paikin-audio/id200802797)

“The rule of the technocrats: Have democracies given too much control to bureaucrats and policy advisors? Judy Rebick joins Steve Paikin for more.”

• Steve Paikin: Technocrats actually appointed in Greece and Italy to be their prime ministers.
• Judy Rebick:  They’re taking us down the same path.
• Very dangerous argument that we need experts rather than a proper democratic process.
• We need more engaged citizens.
• Use of technocrats is “an authoritarian system”. Example: China.
• Let’s reform democracy to make it more responsive to citizens.
• Make politicians more accountable.
• We need more participatory democracy.
• Steve Paikin: Elites are running the show whether political or technocratic.
• Judy Rebick: There can be a pressure of citizens on the political elite but citizens can’t pressure technocratic elites.
• Talks about examples of participatory democracy at the local level where the people decide what they need.
• She says we have to go down this road or we’re on the road to a more authoritarian form of government.