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This highlights one of the true dichotomies of the modern world... the difference between democratic and constitutional rule.
Western democratic governments are assumed to be open and welcoming. This is not because of any particular characteristic of those countries... rather it has been forced on them by the realities of international relations. This is not a bad thing (necessarily), but reflects that the national governments MUST look beyond their own borders, and seek alliances where they can (be they economic, military, cultural, or spiritual). It does not mean, however, that the population of the country subscribes to the government's position.
In a pure democracy (with no constitutional limitations), and Switzerland perhaps is the closest country in the world to that concept, laws can be decided on the basis of the true desire of the people. This is not a bad thing (necessarily), but it will often emphasize something that few western people seem to realise:
THERE IS NOTHING INHERENTLY NICE ABOUT DEMOCRACY!!
This is the role of the constitution... to effectively put the brakes on the unfettered will of the people.
BTW... the vote was 57.5% of the people in favour. While depressingly high, I don't see that as an overwhelming majority in any way.
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The secret to great marksmanship is deciding what the target was AFTER you've shot.
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