2 ms·

Well these things have popular support, it's just there's a gulf between 50% and 60%, and yet another between 60% and 70% Its hard because laws that ensure bas

• danieltillett 9y ago
  The move in support for legalising SSM has come rather fast - 5 years ago it was less than 50%. Yes relying on achieving popular support before acting will always mean that change happens later than it really should, but I think this price is worth paying to ensure long term support. I do think political systems that reguire building broad popular support are desirable in general because they encourage openness.
  • lqdc13 9y ago
    What if the status quo keeps moving in a direction that slowly makes things worse for a certain group of people? You basically cannot get out of it unless you can convince most people that it's a good idea. With a 2-party system you can get someone who represents those people to rule for a while and maybe correct the course. Also, with optional voting, we basically delegate decisions to those who really care about something. Having lived in a country with mandatory voting, I saw a few elections where people's views and the results of some elections were easily manipulated by false news close to the election day. People who are ambivalent I think are more likely to change their decision over such things.