SEOUL - Former U.S. Sen. Mike Gravel (D-Alaska), a 2008 Democratic candidate for president, has been the leading advocate of introducing the ballot initiative at the federal level in America. But, as Gravel told the 2009 Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy here Monday, he's been frustrated in his efforts in the U.S.
    So now, in an application of the maxim "If you face a big problem, expand it," Gravel has decided to take his idea for America to other countries. His search for "an alternative national venue" has brought him to Korea, with its relatively new democracy and constitution.
Gravel said he intends to work to convince Koreans to adopt a national ballot initiative power-and then build on that triumph to take the idea around the world. Gravel and the Korea Democracy Foundation have been working to educate Koreans on the subject. They're also conducting a national poll; if it shows support for the strong idea, advocates will press Korea's Election Management Committee to schedule an election - perhaps next year - on the subject.
    Gravel's proposal for a Korean National Initiative also creates a Citizens' Assembly and a "citizens Trust" to administer direct democratic elections.
    Gravel and other advocates have cleverly sought to appeal to national pride - particularly Koreans' record as successful exporters. Direct democracy, they argue, would be another Korean export.
    "The Korean model of direct democracy will become the modern-day model of human governance for the poieples of all democracies," Gravel told the forum, adding: "Koreans will take their rightful place in the pantheon of history with the ancient Greeks and romans, the Revolutionary American colonists, and the Swiss with their contribution to the advancement of civilization's human governance."
    In the past, I've been critical of Gravel, who has at times used bombastic rhetoric that muddled his message. To his credit, he seems to have re-evaluated and delivered a focused presentation that offered a clear, realistic strategy for advancing the idea of a national initiative.