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Originally Posted by Charlatan
I knew I didn't explain that properly...
A referendum takes a complex issue like same-sex marriage, funding for schools, etc. and turns it into a yes or no question. Then it is left up to the people to decide. Generally speaking, these people are not experts on these topics and only vote based on an emotional or uninformed response.
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Again, how is same-sex marriage a complex issue? I could understand budgeting issues or international relations not being left up to yes/no, but I don't see how it is bad here.
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I realize this isn't all that different from electing our politicians. But when our politicians vote on something in a legislative assembly the thing they are voting on has been through committes that have poke and prodded it throughly. Have sought expert advice.
I realize that even this system is not perfect, lobbyist can gum up the works. But frankly, I trust this system more than I do, the average voter to decide what is the right course of action for creating laws that effect us all.
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The problem is that the "experts" are often paid consultants from a lobby, and have a stake in the outcomes. And representitives are often no more likely to be knowledgable on a subject than the average person. Most of their info actually comes from their staff, who might ahve their own biases/adgendas.
And why would you think that the reps elected by people w/o the ability to govern themselves (by making their own laws) would be any better than the people themselves? It seems logical that someone elected by fools would be no better than the fools themselves.