Eleven of our current elected representatives voted to ignore that referendum except for the mayor Hamish McDouall and councillor Phillipa Baker-Hogan. Photo / file
Respect citizens' choice
Democracy, according to the Oxford dictionary, is a "system of government by the whole population, typically through elected representatives, where a state is governed by an elected majority". It's not perfect but it's the fairest form of governance ever run by humankind. The alternatives, like Hitler's Nazis
or Stalin's Marxists, cost millions of lives and place many more millions under misery. Many of our finest young men fought and died protecting our form of democracy against such tyranny.
In the USA even Trump will have to abide by the majority and respect the change through that democratic system.
To impose an opposing will on the people who elected you or ignore a result of a referendum, a great tool of a fair and democratic society, is the height of arrogance and selfishness.
Our own recently elected government are doing the right thing by respecting and enacting the overall majority views expressed through the two referenda run in conjunction with the general election. Despite our leader's personal views to the contrary, she is smart enough to realise that to do otherwise would bring scorn and ridicule to her government and the country.