Text 6253, 55 rader
Skriven 2010-03-27 00:59:16 av Michiel van der Vlist (2:280/5555)
     Kommentar till en text av Ross Cassell (1:123/456)
Ärende: Question about democracy
================================
Hello Ross,

On Friday March 26 2010 09:24, you wrote to me:

 MV>> A democratically elected president initiated a law to reform the
 MV>> healthcare system. It was accepted by democratically elected
 MV>> representatives in congress and in the senate. So far so good, it
 MV>> is how democracy works in the US doesn't it?.

 RC> The initiative was ram-rodded along partisan party lines and its
 RC> victory like in the House, by 7 votes, does not a mandate make.

In a democracy, when push comes to shove, the majority decides. 219 against 212
is a majority isn't it? So what is the problem?

 RC> In any society, there are issues that get placed before it, in which
 RC> there are people whom are for it or against it, in this case, there
 RC> were alot of people against it, polling data suggests that over 55% of
 RC> the population were against it, some because of the ism factors,
 RC> others because they felt the measure doesnt go far enough.

That may be so, but your system is not based on referenda. The only polls that
count is when you elect your representatives.

 RC> No one has to like a piece of legislation that has been passed, unless
 RC> your definition of freedom is that the majority gets to decide ones
 RC> likes and dislikes.

Who said anything about liking?

My question was about *accepting*.

 RC> If the Lawmakers in your country, legitimately passed some legislation
 RC> that governed what Physicists (such as you) can do in their free time
 RC> and had to check in at the local police station weekly, would you like
 RC> it?

Everyday decisions are made that I do not like. That happens in a democracy.
Only in a dictatorship where I am the dictator will there never be a decisison
I do not like. In a democracy one has to accept that ever so often one is
outvoted. I do not like that if it happens to me, but I *accept* it.

 RC> I do not condone the means that some have elected to voice their
 RC> displeasure, but liking a piece of passed legislation that one has
 RC> opposed is not a requirement for citizenship.

But *accepting* it, is part of being a memeber of a democracy.

So why don't you accept the result of the system that you say is so great?


Cheers, Michiel

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