Power13 wrote:
Here is something I learned a long time ago and is applicable here.....everyone thinks that living in a democracy means the "majority rules"....but the beauty and genius of a democracy is that there is protection FROM the majority. This is the reason why we have concepts like Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Right to Privacy, etc.
Just sumthin' to ponder.....
I hear what you are saying, but life is all about majority rules. Democracy makes the voice of the weakest as strong as that of the most powerful (1 man, 1 vote), but when a group of like minded people come together, their voices will be the one heard. The minority still has protection to have their voice heard & vote counted, but the most simple concept of democracy is that the majority rules. if that was not the case, we would have had a Green Party president for the last 20 years.
Here's a completely wild analogy: Slowtwitch is a forum for triathletes. People who are strictly runners & not triathletes make up a minority here. If they were to say that they no longer want to see any posts about swimming or cycling, should they get their way even though the majority here are triathletes?
Here's a more apt analogy: You live in an area where cycling is very popular. It's so popular that cyclists on roads has become a major problem because it is impeding vehicular traffic. Your local municipality has decided that it is going to take away the right lane of all roads & convert them into bike only lanes. This has the support of 85% of the community despite the fact that it will come at a cost of $100M in taxpayer dollars. Should the voice of the 5% of the community who does not care about cyclists, does not want to give up a lane of every road, and doesn't want to see $100M of tax dollars wasted on the project be heard over the 85% who support it fully? The 5% still have the same voice as the 85% & can campaign against it, speak at town hall meetings, etc, but in the end, should their voice carry MORE weight than the majority?