wcw (06/18/82)
True, officials should vote on facts and the feelings of the responsible (not majority) people they represent. I say "responsible" since the majority has often been wrong in the past since the "people" generally follow those which are most vocal (why else do unions produce a "sample ballot" or recommend the way to vote: surely it's not because most people consider things objectively). There are, however, two problems with your statement. First, the officials MAY be voting according to the facts and the feelings of the majority. The most vocal are often not the majority - but that, I don't know while perhaps you do. Second, the whole issue of hunger strikes and/or demonstrations are designed to put undue pressure on those making the decisions; why else would they do it? I doubt that too many hunger strikers and/or demonstrators would continue if they were totally ignored by the news media and/or the people that they were trying to sway (including the popluation which the officials represent). Thus, while I am not giving judgment to your statement regarding the reasoning of the officials, there is also something which should be said about those supporting the ERA in their attempt to sway the officials by things other than the facts. The apparent reasoning behind a hunger strike is "vote my way so that you will not be responsible for my death" - certainly NOT a factual argument. Also, what is the reasoning behind a demonstration? If it is indeed to show support for an issue (on a local scale), the officials might be more impressed by a list of registered voters which support a clear statement on the petition. For example, Sign below if you "support equal rights for people regardless of sex" is NOT identical to the statement: sign below if you "support equal rights for people regardless of sex as presented in the ERA". One is agreement with a concept with no mention of implementation, one is agreement with the method of implementation. (I have had the first style visit me and only after discussion was it stated that this was going to be presented in support of the ERA. That personally bothers me since the apparent reason for signing was not the purpose for which the document was going to be used.) Around here, we just had a high school closing (sort of). However, after several months of bad stragity on the supporters of one high school which was the one the board recommended to close, school board elections came up. The primary issue during those elections was "will you support a redecision designed to open the school which was closed". That mentality of "one issue" decisions shows that people can be easily swayed (also shown by the arguments shown in the "letters to the editor" of the local paper). However, I've been long enough....