Lincoln Imp
Well-known member
- Feb 2, 2009
- 5,964
Your theory is correct in identifying the different tactics used by undemocratic loons/extremists across the globe but ignoring the similarities would be dishonest.
See..
Expecting democratic results to be fully enacted if their side prevails.
Trying to delegitimise results they don't like.
Insisting on voting again if the result doesn't go their way.
Using any legislative or parliamentary pathway no matter how arcane or spurious to try and thwart the democratic result they previously agreed should be enacted.
Constantly belittling and talking down to those who don't share their world view.
Having experienced much of the above (along with 17.4 million fellow citizens) I can assure you it doesn't make too much difference how someone tries to ignore your vote it's the fact they are trying it at all that is the shameful act. Fortunately, founding democratic principles prevailed here and will in the US.
Democracy 2 Undemocratic loons 0
In April 1964, Peter Allen killed a man. Four months later Robert Stewart killed Peter Allen. The results were the same. The methods weren’t vastly different. But one was a criminal act and the other was a man doing his lawful job. There are no similarities of consequence between the two - to suggest there are is a libel on the law-abider.
Another parallel, closer to home and with an hypothesis.
Imagine thousands of rioting Brexiteers being incited by Mark Francois and the rest of the ERG cream to rock up at Westminster and batter down the doors to the Commons, rampage round the chamber, terrify the fleeing occupants and pile on to the Speaker’s chair. Guns fire. People die. And all this because they didn’t like the views of the people’s representatives and wanted different opinions to surface.
Now let’s move on to to another situation. Imagine that a powerful and ambitious politician also decided that they didn’t like the views of the people’s representatives and wanted different opinions to surface. But instead of knocking seven bells out of selected honourable members they went back to those who put them there, told them that their views were wrong and that they should think again. And consign the troublesome representatives to the dustbin of history.
Two events. Both aiming to get the same outcome. Nothing in common. One used the time-honoured avenues of our parliamentary democracy and broke no law. The other involved base violence and intimidation and broke a dozen laws.
And you say that they have similarities? That Theresa May’s forlorn attempt to ‘crush the saboteurs” (courtesy Daily Mail) was arcane and spurious, the last throw of an undemocratic loon?
Actually, you’re not saying that. Not in this case. Of course you’re not. You only say that politicians applying the basic and fundemental principles of a representative democracy can be compared to weapon-wielding thugs when it suits your case.
You're not debating. You're simply trotting out nuance-free absolutism.
PS Do I think that May’s attempt to use democratic means to overturn the results of the 2015 general election were spurious, arcane and anti-democratic? No I don’t. They were entirely legal and complied with the rules of our constitution.