Post-Covid, I suggest that the Track and Trace system should be converted to a platform where the general public could give their opinions on major issues of the day, thereby engaging with and strengthening the democratic process.
The system should be expanded so that all registered voters would have access and could record their opinions on such topics as abortion law reform, public house opening hours, Sunday trading, nuclear power investment, on-shore wind turbines, Heathrow expansion or relocation, devolved government powers, cycle lanes, business rates and council tax reforms, a wealth tax, honours for wealthy tax avoiding recipients, immigration controls, etc.
Six years ago, Taiwan began to blend technology with politics to create a new way of making decisions and this has found consensus where bitter divisions had previously existed.
The platform is called vTaiwan, with the ‘v’ standing for virtual, and experts and other interested parties can discuss contentious issues. Initially objective facts are crowd-sourced from the different stakeholders.
Then registered users, via a dedicated social media network, can post a draft statement proposing their solution and other users can respond in agreement or disagreement.
When a possible consensus has been reached, virtual or actual meetings can be arranged to advance the issue.
An early major issue resolved by vTaiwan, was the acceptance and regulation of Uber, following determined opposition by the taxi drivers.
Statements made cannot be responded to, so no trolling occurs and to gain maximum support, those posted gradually become less controversial and more reasonably grounded.
After 6 years in operation, as division evolves into consensus, the government can then act. To date the vTaiwan platform has enabled 12 laws or regulations to be passed with another 8 waiting to be voted on.
As we look to heal the bitter divisions over Brexit, and seek solutions on Scottish Independence and Northern Ireland’s possible unification with Ireland, our Track and Trace system’s legacy could be a rebuilding of consensual politics, bringing those parts of the electorate that have not traditionally engaged in the process into the fold and thereby bringing more harmony to our democracy.
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