Is The Lisbon Re-run an Abuse of Democracy?

Interesting head to head poll in the Times today- Mary Lou McDonald explains that is the same dinner, warmed up and stuck on a different plate, while Dick Roche tries to tell us that all Irish concerns have been met.

But we didn't vote just as self-interested Irish people Dick, we voted as good Europeans. We want the best for Europe -which doesn't mean writing a blank cheque to the arms industry.

Irish Times head to head poll

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2008/1222/1....html

Monday, December 22, 2008
Is the second referendum on Lisbon an abuse of democracy?

IMAGINE IF the Government lost a general election but refused to concede defeat. Imagine if they said that while respecting the outcome, they believed that the electorate failed to understand the issues, were misled by opposition parties and manipulated by the media. Imagine if they decided to re-run the election, threatening international isolation and economic collapse if the electorate refused to change their mind.

Would you be outraged? Would you feel that your vote was being ignored? Would you think that democracy was being undermined?

[rest of articles at link]