Leigh,

L-A-W-F-U-L,lawful. In one period in Ancient Rome, under the patria potestas, the Head of a Family could exercise personal dicretion over his family, and, because he brought chikdren into the World that included the power of life and death. Totally lawful, Leigh. In Feudal Briton the Nobelman had the right to have first relations with villager/farmer brides-to-be,before the husband. Totally lawful,Leigh. More recently, Jews were deported to be incinerated. Totally lawful, leigh. You know some people would say in was just the law. But is a just law? Now, that is question. Most Forum resopndents seem concerned. because give the history of Australian Police Forces, it is D-A-N-G-E-R-O-U-S. Leigh, please go to the Google and type in "Lawerence Kolhberg". Read the description, there. You seem a candidate for a "3" or "4", the blind obedience to justice and law profile. Your opponents are "5s" and "6s", they appraise the law and evaluate potential consequences. It is not a matter intelligence but of psychological make-up. Albert Speer was a brilliant man, whom believed in the law too.

dw,

Councils would love to power from citizens and the States, but like their State to pick on the Bill. You pay for the tar but we will say how you can park on it. The NT government can easily have its autonomy eroded, because of its depedence on Commonwealth funding, The point is all Governments want the toys and not pay for them. Typically, the process involves taking control away from The People.
At the nadir are Councillors, at the apex the PM. All advocating "Power by The People", while taking power from The People. You retort, "No"! But, what if I were to suggest, having within- political term, "citizen 'initiatied in reformenda" to overturn the decisions of elected representatives (your ideas), I bet you would oppose this course? Did you do anything to stop Joh's reign and overlordship. Another, "3" or "4" (please read above).

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Leigh and dw,

Democracy is a fragile thing. It is easily lost. The classic civilizations aside, contrary to popular believe the, US did not have the fully fledged democracy, Iceland did. In the Eleventh Century. The "1s" and "2s" (Kolberg, above), pulled it down, while the "3s" and "4s" did nothing. The Authoritarian State exists to contain its lower levels "by order of jurisdiction" (Wright), where, adherence is inforced by stern boundaries on independent freedom.

Both ancient and mordern histories are struggle to away from the power by the few towards power by the many (The People). In recent decades you and your kind would arrest our liberties. No thin end of wedges for me.