Whats next?

[Cutlass]

Direct democracy has very bad effects. People vote based on emotion instead of reason, and are very easily mislead by how an issue is presented.

 

[Keroro]

Direct democracy has very bad effects. People vote based on emotion instead of reason, and are very easily mislead by how an issue is presented.

You could replace the word people with ministers, senators or representatives without affecting the truth of the statement.

 

[Dragonlord]

You could replace the word people with ministers, senators or representatives without affecting the truth of the statement.

Not to mention that senators etc. are easily corrupted by lobbyists et. al. - it would be much harder to bribe a whole electorate, eh?

I won't deny that direct democracy has its dangers and pitfalls, but I've always thought that the argument 'people are too ignorant(stupid/emotional to vote on the issues' applies equally to a representative democracy - then they're too stupid to vote for the right politician, too!
Of course, seeing who gets voted in sometimes, there may be something to that argument.... GWB springs to mind immediately...

I agree though that direct democracy wouldn't be practical for everyday government and every issue - even the most intelligent and informed voter couldn't possible inform him/herself on every issue - but for certain key issues I'd really like to have a say in the decision, instead of having to rely on the morons who often seem to occupy political offices..