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You are right that informed vote is important, but there's no "informed choice" requirement anywhere in democracy-as-voting. If fact, there's no "informed choic

by smsm42 5y ago

You are right that informed vote is important, but there's no "informed choice" requirement anywhere in democracy-as-voting. If fact, there's no "informed choice" requirement in the US democracy either. It's commonly implied that we prefer it, but it's not a requirement. > the political system will not be stable, Why not? If the oppressor class is big and cohesive enough, and does not care for the oppressed, there's no reason for them to stop and nothing could force them to stop, short of violent revolution or outside intervention - they would always maintain the majority. > there is no legitimate long term threat to Australia's democracy How do you know that? I think collectively agreeing to suspend basic human rights for reason A would make it very easy to agree to suspend basic human rights for reasons B, C, D, E, ..., Z - and then, what is left from the democracy? Voting? See above.

mehwoot 5y ago
short of violent revolution But that's exactly what happens when you start murdering people and a significant minority knows it can happen to them. How do you know that? I think collectively agreeing to suspend basic human rights for reason A would make it very easy to agree to suspend basic human rights for reasons B I don't think the default position is just a slippery slope. I think someone making this argument should have to show some evidence why you think Australians would agree to impose a curfew for some more sinister reason now other than just "we're used to it". Because we aren't. Despite agreeing to it for public health reasons, in absolute terms people are NOT happy with it. I'd argue the opposite: like a vaccine prepping your immune system, being forced to live with curfews may very well strengthen our resolve to not go through this again if it can absolutely be avoided. Lockdown fatigue is a very real thing here and anyone suggesting lockdown for political or other nefarious reasons (as the author tries to imply) very well could find it now harder than previously.

by smsm42 5y ago

mehwoot 5y ago

short of violent revolution But that's exactly what happens when you start murdering people and a significant minority knows it can happen to them. How do you know that? I think collectively agreeing to suspend basic human rights for reason A would make it very easy to agree to suspend basic human rights for reasons B I don't think the default position is just a slippery slope. I think someone making this argument should have to show some evidence why you think Australians would agree to impose a curfew for some more sinister reason now other than just "we're used to it". Because we aren't. Despite agreeing to it for public health reasons, in absolute terms people are NOT happy with it. I'd argue the opposite: like a vaccine prepping your immune system, being forced to live with curfews may very well strengthen our resolve to not go through this again if it can absolutely be avoided. Lockdown fatigue is a very real thing here and anyone suggesting lockdown for political or other nefarious reasons (as the author tries to imply) very well could find it now harder than previously.