A DEMOCRACY is a system of government by the whole population or all eligible members who are entitled to vote and take part in decisions. I am increasingly frustrated by the media and Members of Parliament allowing comments about democracy to go unchallenged. In the current UK, we live in a democracy whereby we have the freedom to vote for a local candidate who will represent our views in Parliament and make decisions on our behalf.
Our democracy does not mean that Parliament then turns to the people to make the decisions whenever they find it too complex to do so themselves. Now, however, that Pandora’s box has been well and truly opened, leading to the dilemma about whether to have a second EU vote.
This idea is continually shouted down as being undemocratic and yet the lies and misrepresentation of the 2016 referendum are glossed over as somehow being acceptable in a democracy.
The principal word in all this for me is “freedom”. Freedom to vote, freedom to express opinion and lastly, freedom to change one’s mind.
Mary Taylor
Wormit, Fife
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
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The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
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