Yeah I do take your point, Lurch. And yes, I agree that in some cases, the majority may be wrong - and someone needs to stand up and let 'em know!
But ...
The last 'objective' poll, conducted by MORI in November last year, found 76 per cent of the population want hunting with dogs to be made illegal. So it's not nearly as fine a line as "6 people taking on 5", rather "7 or 8 people taking on 3". And yes, "damn lies and statistics ..." - I appreciate that such numbers don't always mean much - but when the majority of the country want something done, and a minority are in opposition, you have to ask the question - just where is the line drawn, exactly?
I suppose - admittadely - it winds me up that there are literally hundreds of other 'minority' issues that deserve the same kind of support and attention - but don't get it - because in the current socio-political climate, the majority rules otherwise ... issues such as other forms of hunting and bloodsports, legal euthenasia, gun law, gay rights, legalisation of cannabis, martial arts weaponry - just to name a few off the top of my head. I actively support some minority issues myself, but I don't for one minute expect to have my opinions accepted by the majority of people, and neither would I be so indignant as to try and force my minority beliefs on other people ... "because I'm right and everyone else is wrong!" ... it's a case of sticking to your guns and hoping that one day the rest of the world will see sense (!).
Hence ... if it was a more close-run argument then I'd be less inclined to support the ban on the grounds of 'majority rule' (not that that's my only reason, of course). But the hunts people are in a minority in this case, and rather than blindly (or proudly?) fighting till the bitter end, I think it better for them - and everyone else - to accept their minority status on this issue and look to means of reaching a compromise (or a near-compromise), rather than simply screaming and shouting about how 'hard done by' they are - that's always going to get the goat of people like myself.
And no, I don't particularly like our 'democracy' either! But at the moment, that's what ALL of us belong to - the long, and the short and tall, the rich and the poor, the quick and the thick. And not one of us is above it - though there are times when I sorely wish otherwise ...
G :?:
PS: I do empathise with ANYONE who is fighting for something they personally believe in, and I know how frustrating it can be when people tell you to tow the line, simply because you're outnumbered. So apologies if I'm coming across as devil's advocate here! I'm not asking hunts people to 'accept' or be happy with the upcoming ruling, I'm just asking them to accept that they ARE in a minority, and to start using their heads instead of their hands (and horns, for that matter ...!). No hard feelings
- END OF RANT -