From:	Robert Watkins <bob@**.NTU.EDU.AU>
Subject:	Re: Conservative revenge aka Soapbox
Date:	Sat, 23 Oct 1993 02:34:09 +0930

>
>I will stay away from temporal political machinations while elaborating upon
>a point Info Static touched upon:
>
>>. . .nothing will get better until more than fifty percent of the population
>>votes in ALL elections, not just the election of the Prez. One man can only
>>do so much, and the system is set-up to limit the power of one person/group
>>(in theory, anyway). *dismounting soapbox, thanks and have a good day*
>
>In GURPS Cyberpunk (and many poli-sci classes, I assume) they discuss the
>tyranny of the minority. As in:
>
>50% of the population votes.
>60% of the vote (or 30% of the population) enact a measure making Blueberry
>Muffins REQUIRED EATING for jobs, housing, etc.
>
>A Minority of less than a third of the population has just made life difficult
>for people who don't like blueberry muffins.
>
>Worse yet, they could make soy products required, ostracizing or even killing
>Doom and his ilk.
>
>You may laugh, but it is something to consider. Not just for real life, but
>for plots.
>
>
>J Roberson
>

In one of Robert A. Heinlein's series of books (the one the Howard Families
form a part of), the United States has an election in the mid 21st century, in
which, thanks to a fear campaign, less than 10% of the populace vote, and thus
a religious dictatorship gets into power unanimously.
This results in the first constitional convention in God knows how long. And
the next election isn't held.

Of course, you could go the route we did, and I think Canada also: compulsory
voting. This doesn't mean we get a better quality of government, it just means
the politicians spend time convincing us to vote for them, rather than
convincing their own supporters to bother turning up.

--
Robert Watkins
bob@******.cs.ntu.edu.au
************ It wouldn't be luck if you could get out of life alive. ***********