Would the concept of democracy be well served by holding referendums on controversial idea's ?

Question

Either you believe in democratic process or you don't

Either you believe that certain issues are so important that the public should be consulted in the making of laws or you don't

There is not much wiggle room is there ?

Abortion - Capitol punishment - and other controversial ideas - should they be put to a referendum in order to serve the concept of democratic process or they are so important that the risk of the population making a wrong decision out weighs the ideals of democracy

So on important issues - do you think they should be subject to the decison of the population -- or strong armed by the "right" decison and never left up to a stupid and gullible population who is unable to govern themselves and must be made to tow the line to an elitist group that will impose the "right" decision on a stupid public

If that is your position - why have elections at all ? The King or uh President know better than you do on these important issues - why not just let that King or President decide everything for you ?

I don't want 51% plus telling me what to do if they are wrong ?Then really you just want a Stalin - or a King that agrees with you don't you ?

Answer 1

National referendums by the people would be a good idea .

Answer 2

I always love your questions.

Obviously some issues are too important and should not be put to a vote like taxes for education.  The risk is too high selfish needs of elders without children might overrun the need to educate.  I am generally of the notion that elected officials should do their job and not pull me in to the polling booth for c**p like banning g*y marriage.  

I say hold elections for held offices only if it is an all or nothing proposition.

Answer 3

Good question.

America is not a true Democracy, and never was. A true democracy, as you say,  means that a 51% majority rules. Our founders knew that this would be a disasterous and tyrranical form of government. (it's also interesting to note that no communist nation has ever been truly communist, a society in which everything is owned by everyone, where there is no private ownership).

America is a Democratic Republic. The founders recognized that the rights of the minority must protected from the will of the majority. An obvious example is the race issue. Until as recently as 40 years ago (or so) segregation and discrimination were legal in many states. White majorities legalized persecution of the Black minority (and of other minorities). Roman Catholics outnumber Protestants in many communities. In a true democracy, they could pass laws forbidding property ownership or imposing curfews on Protestants only (as well as their sacriments such as Holy Communion!). This is one reason we have the electoral college.

That does not mean that "a stupid and gullible population" is "unable to govern themselves." It means that a population must govern themselves according to system that recognizes the rights, beliefs, and traditions of the minority, which must be considered and respected when governmental decisions are made.

Having said that, even our democratic republican (sounds ironic, huh?) form of government is being put to the test. And it is a minority which is threatening it - that is, the Evangelical Christian minority (before people go off on me, I am not saying Evangelical Christianity or Christians are bad, only that it is dangerous when any particular group attempts to usurp for themselves the power that the Constitution grants to the People, all the people). Will they be able to impose their beliefs and even doctrines on society, to dilute the study of real science with their own personal beliefs in a mystical creation, and to deny human rights to citizens based on political beliefs or sexual orientation? They are very close to being able to legislate such things, and are even striving to change our Constitution to impose their beliefs upon it, and thereby upon us all.

America is being put to the test. Were our founding fathers as wise as we believe them to be? Will a vocal minority be able to control our laws and government? Or will democracy (republican democracy) succeed in fairly governing all of us - "We, the People..."?

Answer 4

The problem with referendums is that people have opinions on  issues that they know nothing  about and do not really care about. Referendums only count votes they do not measure the intensity of feeling like the political process does.   The California experience shows the  on many issues the results of a referendum can be bought by special interest groups advertising  because people  can be easily influenced on issues when the do not really care.