Bag's Rants

Is this how democracy is supposed to work?

One questions that I've had about democracy is regarding votes on certain key issues. Issues like this one on Whaling that passed by one vote. Of course the losers are contesting the legality of the vote. Wonder if that would have happened if the vote went the other way. Read more here.

It was interesting on two points. The first was that it appears our normal view on things like whaling, fox hunting etc. seem to be getting challenged and the conservations groups are not winning everything now. Maybe people are getting fed up of being fed the conservation line. It will be interesting to watch.

The other point I found interesting was the statement at the end 'it needs three-quarters of the Whaling Commission to vote in favour'. Wait a minute! I thought in a democracy the majority won. How come that in some of the issues that are raised it needs more that a majority to pass? One thing I have noticed though is that when it comes to taking our liberties or extra tax or anything we don't want but they do it actually only takes one vote more than the others and it's a done deal. When it comes to giving something away that they don't want to but we do then it needs 75% of the vote. I'm not sure that is how a democracy is supposed to work.

posted by Bag @ 1:35 am