It has a lot to do with parliamentary democracy versus plebiscite. A referendum

is a vote on a single issue, and lends itself to lack of nuance and ruthless exploitation of ignorance and prejudice. Because it's a single issue, all the resources of the protagonists are focused on that, and that intensity tends to encourage the extremes.

Don't disagree that part of the problem with the Brexit referendum was decades of misinformation by media owned by the wealthy with agendas, but referendums are not a satisfactory way to choose between prejudices.

Posted By: Higher Wrather, Aug 21, 14:40:33