Debate is Essential for Democracy

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As one with Scottish ancestry (albeit a long way back), I have been following the independence referendum with some interest. One of the most fascinating aspects of it has been the extent to which it has revived genuine political debate - something that has been lacking both in the UK and Australia for far too long.

Duncan MacLaren has an illuminating piece in today's 'Eureka Street' that, amongst other things, highlights that bigger is not necessarily better - small countries often have less inequality than large ones.

Tony Abbott, of course, prefers bigger to better - not that it's any of his or Australia's business what the Scots want or do.

But I particularly like MacLaren's last comment that "the process we have undergone … will have a lasting effect on the life of the nation and far beyond our borders, acting as an inspiration for democratic change through talk".

If I have one hope out of the current shambles of a process for local government so-called reform in WA, it is that, whatever the outcome of the court case, government will no longer take the rest of us for granted.

That hope will be more readily realised if the legal action is successful, but the expressed strength of community outrage should put our elected representatives on notice even if that particular battle is not won.