Some of the prerequisites for Democracy are listed
as being - advanced economic development, restraints on
government power, absence of major cleavages, access to
information, diffusion of power, and of course the
tolerance of dissent.

A tolerance of dissent means a tolerance of criticism and of
dissenting opinions - which is considered fundamental to
democracy. Governing parties must resist the temptation to
equate their own policies with the national good, or they will
tend to regard opposition as disloyal or even treasonable.
Similarly, democracies must avoid the danger of the "tyranny of
the majority," in some cases the democratic process may work in
such a way that a small minority - for example Sikhs in India,
is rendered permanently powerless.

For groups in this position, democracy might as well not
exist, and it important that government should recognise
the grievances of minorities that have little political clout.

Because as history has shown us and as I stated earlier if the
losers in the political process do not accept the legitimacy of the
process under which they have lost,
they may resort in more radical tactics
outside of the institutional framework.

However, most people, of course, do not rationally consider the
various alternatives. No matter what country they inhabit
they tend simply to accept the system they have been socialised
to believe in.

Extensive research on political socialisation has shown the people
take the legitimacy of their particular political system for
granted at a very early age. This was stated as a response to
Rehctub's concern that a "NO" vote would not be acceptable to
Gay activists.

Why should singles have to pay for gay 'love'?

If there ever was a rationale for unearned conditions and entitlements that favour 'marrieds' over singles, it no longer exists.

Especially where the number of 'marrieds' has been increased substantially over the years through the inclusion of defacto 'relationships' and then again, by including homosexual defactos as a further burden.

We're told that there are at least 20,000 same-sex
couples in Australia who experience systematic
discrimination on a daily basis. There are 58 federal
laws that deny same-sex couples and their children
basic financial and work-related entitlements which
are available to opposite-sex couples and their
children.

The following website explains further:

http://www.humanrights.gov.au/publications/same-sex-community-guide

Why should first-class tax payers like same-sex
couples be second-class citizens in this country
due to their systematic discrimination on a
daily basis.

Poirot, my appolgies it was Pauls remark about the cake being the wrong color.

Foxy, if you honestly think a same sex couple raising a family is normal then I'm afraid you have lost the plot.

Dear Rehctub,

Losing just the plot isn't so bad.

Some people lose not only the plot, they also lose the
sub-plot, the script, the soundtrack, the intermission,
popcorn, credits and the exit sign as well.

Many people live in a fog. Many don't know what the plot is.
Life to some is like a movie for which they arrived over 30
minutes late.

According to new Australian research children of same-sex
parents enjoy better levels of health and well being than
their peers from traditional family units.

We're told that there are more than 33,000 families with
same-sex parents living in Australia. This is according
to the most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics Census.

Some suggested explanations for the better levels of
health and well-being of children of same-sex parents were -

1) Same-sex couples faced less pressure to fulfil traditional
gender roles which led to a more harmonious households.

2) Parenting roles and work roles and home roles within
same-sex parenting families are more equitably distributed
when compared to heterosexual families.

What this means is that people take on roles that are suited
to their skill sets rather than falling into those gender
stereotypes - which is mum staying home and looking after
the kids and dad going out to earn money.

With same-sex families the traditional nurturing role
is shared. It's not one parent over another, the traditional
bread winning role is shared.

This leads to a more harmonious family unit and results in
better health and well being.

The following website explains:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-05/children-raised-by-same-sex-couples-healtier-study-finds/5574168