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A group of people get together because they would like to see an end to the death penalty in their Country. So, they decide to run for election with that as part of their platform.

Another group of people also run, with the clear policy that they in fact DO support the death penalty - eye for an eye and all of that.

Well, there is an election. The people who gain the majority in Congress in the end are the people who want to see it abolished. So, they propose the law, and following spirited debate with the people who want to keep it in, the vote occurs - and capital punishment is no more.

Apart from the right for people to propose new laws and seek re-introducing it as democratically elected representatives, that should be the end of it. Right?

WRONG

Dissatisfied, the Congressmen who supported the death penalty decide to take matters into their own hands. They pay thousands of their own dollars to bring it about anyway. They hire vigilantes to roam the streets and punish any people who commit murder. They pay for people in jail to kill anyone in the jail convicted of what was previously a capital offence.

Satisfied they return home, knowing they are in the right regardless of what the majority thinks. After all, they were well within their rights to do this correct? After all, the people are just dumb sheep and voted with no idea of the implications of what they did. So it's perfectly reasonable to usurp democracy on this occasion - right?

RIGHT???

And friends, therein lies the problem.

I (like you) awoke this morning to the news that certain individuals may have collaborated in starting an unauthroised RW in indonesia, and I have been advised this was possibly for personal reasons rather than a true desire to return our nation. Now, the reason to commence a RW is not really the issue for me. Frankly, nor is the outcome (though, I strongly suspect we would not be successful, mainly as eIndonesia will not allow the return of this region outside the established agreement which would have returned Tas in the next few days irrespectively).

What worries me is the impact on the democratic right of people to vote their representatives of choice into office, and the stated mandate of these individuals. While I can respect civil debate, I don't think there ever was a secret when you voted last election for people who wanted a diplomatic return of nations. Even Australian Warlord advocated a diplomatic solution, albiet with the platform he would be seeking a swifter return timetable.

To compromise in this way harms our eNation terribly. Yes - it is just a game, and shouldn't be taken too seriously. However, like any form of club or society, it is very easy to ruin the game for everyone through pursuing a selfish agenda. And this I personally find repugnant.

So, yet again we are at a crossroads. Is this acceptable behaviour for a minority or individual to do? Next time there is a disagreement, is it acceptable for people to use their own resources to attempt to force change?

It is important to defend democracy. Without it, we will end up just a bad off as any country that suffers a Political Take Over. Without it, I think we lose a part of ourselves.

Comments welcome.

THANK YOU
IAM DINKO