the trouble with democracy

By ( articles ) | Aug 11, 2010

Costa Rica's highest court has ruled against a move to hold a nationwide referendum on recognizing civil unions for homosexual couples. 

Should we applaud? Did the court reason that a popular vote cannot re-define the institution of marriage? Nope. The court stopped the referendum because-- not to put too fine a point on it-- the justices were afraid the gay-rights activists would lose. Or as the AP story put it:

The Constitutional Court's 5-2 decision released Tuesday says such a referendum would put a minority at a disadvantage in a largely Roman Catholic country. 

You know, that's the trouble with democracy. When the people vote, the minority is at a disadvantage.