The word "Democracy" comes from Greek words meaning "Rule by the people". In modern democracies, this is effected via elections, where the people don't actually rule, but choose rulers - and only at election time. Once the leaders are chosen, they are free to do what they want, at least until election time.

An example showing that it's not actually the people who rule is now playing out in the Australian Parliament.

The Senate is debating a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, passed in the upper house of Parliament by the Labor government. The government has excluded certain "energy intensive, trade exposed" industries from the scheme, in order to protect them. However, it doesn't become law if the Senate doesn't pass it - and that won't happen unless either

  • The opposition agrees, or
  • All the minor parties and independents in the Senate agree


The situation now is

  • The opposition will oppose this bill, because it is too strong. They want to water it down even further, granting concessions to even more industries.
  • The Greens party might oppose it because it's too weak. They want fewer concessions.


If both oppose it, there will be no bill, effectively swing things all the way towards the opposition's "ideal" of securing jobs in polluting industries no matter what the cost to the environment and climate.

Interestingly, 75% of the Australian public want the Senate to vote with the Greens' ideas - but this is not going to happen.

It's a classic case of "democracy" not being "rule by the people".