Re: What gets you hooked? (Where's the "sex" option?)

[Collin Li]

Well, that is your personal opinion, and it shouldn't permeate through law to restrict individuals who don't share your opinion from doing so.

That is why the US advocates a republic over a democracy. A democracy promotes the tyranny of the majority, with the majority ethics and morals ruling the country, while the republic is forced to adhere to the constitution and preserve individual liberty as it's primary focus.

I might have a thing against people eating ducks, but my beliefs shouldn't permeate into law, as long as we agree eating duck is a victimless crime (assuming that in our humanist society we ignore animal rights )

[costargh]

Mmm but I like our democracy =)
It works. =)

[Collin Li]

Mmm but I like our democracy =)
It works. =)

Apparently more than half Australia is Christian. It would be scary if it became state religion. We're not in a direct democracy. We are in a system similar to the US, with a better voting system (notably the STV), haha. We also adhere to a constitution. It's why we don't have state religion and moral code imposed on us. Prostitution is legal, but heavily regulated here.

[costargh]

Long live Australia

[Pencil]

Apparently more than half Australia is Christian. It would be scary if it became state religion. We're not in a direct democracy. We are in a system similar to the US, with a better voting system (notably the STV), haha. We also adhere to a constitution. It's why we don't have state religion and moral code imposed on us. Prostitution is legal, but heavily regulated here.

Yeah we are lucky that our constitution protects freedom of religion, and prevents this. But our constitution protects a very limited number of rights, imo it's about time we caught up with other western countries and adopted a bill of rights

[Collin Li]

Interesting. I think the LDP was against it (a Bill of Rights), while the Greens are for it. I wouldn't vote the Greens because they wouldn't recognise the right to trade freely as a right, haha.

I wouldn't know what is the best way to preserve liberty in law, but I would want liberty to be the prime foundation of constitutional law. If the constitution should restrict anything: it should be the government's power.

[Pencil]

Interesting. I think the LDP was against it (a Bill of Rights), while the Greens are for it. I wouldn't vote the Greens because they wouldn't recognise the right to trade freely as a right, haha.

I wouldn't know what is the best way to preserve liberty in law, but I would want liberty to be the prime foundation of constitutional law. If the constitution should restrict anything: it should be the government's power.

Yeah half way through the year I was against a bill of rights, as I thought that the system worked well and that rights protected through statutes and the common law were more flexible anyway. But I changed my mind haha. I think statutory rights can depend too heavily on the political persuasions of the party in power. A bill of rights would provide better protection for minority groups and provide a checklist to ensure individual liberties are upheld. It was thanks to the charter in canada that gay marriage was eventually allowed, so I think it could work here

edit: so a bill of rights could prevent 'tyranny of the majority' haha

[costargh]

For a bill of rights.
Don't think it will happen in the near future though.

I am interested in whether Rudd will go along with Howard's proposal of a referendum... (was it with respect to Aboriginals again?) I can't remember