Democracy -- what it really means

Western Australia is currently debating the "one vote one value" issue. At present, country votes are worth more -- in terms of people elected to parliament -- than city votes. The current government -- with a history of losing in the country areas -- wants to remove the bias.

Well, they want to remove some of the bias. For reasons of political expediency they are willing to accept vote weighting in politically sensitive electorates. But that's another story...

What is "democracy"?

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Thinking Lateral
Need new thinking for your own problems? email nick leth at gmail dot com

Democracy is government by the people, government by the common people, majority rule... What do we have in Australia? What is the practical implication of democracy? It means that 51% of the people are entitled to force the other 49% to do as the majority decide.

Fifty-one percent! Just over half of us are entitled to force the rest to do as they are told! We are talking about rule by the people rather than for the people.

Do "the people" know what they want? Apparently not. Is there ever an election, or a referendum, where "the people" are simply asked for their opinion? No way! The lead up to very vote is a publicity campaign -- a campaign in which the few with a fixed opinion attempt to sway the opinions of the majority. If you can convince 51% -- then the remaining 49% are forced to follow.

Sure, this is "democracy". (And I am glad that I do live in a democracy.) But let's remember what our democracy really means.

There is no democracy for the people. There is only democracy of -- majority rule by -- 51% of the people.

"One vote one value" may help a particular political group remain in power. It will ensure that country voters are overwhelmed by city voters -- country voters will then more easily be forced to accept "democratic" decisions. This is democracy.

Don't ever confuse "democracy" with the right of every individual to have some control over running their own lives.

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Independent Thinking
Independent analysis of your problems by Agamedes Consulting. Support for your thought: email nick leth at gmail dot com