So many people are in social media echo chambers

Our ruling class once seemed to think “everyone” was behind Labor’s Voice – now they have three more sharp reminders that democracy is not their friend.

Our left elite just got three more sharp reminders that democracy is not their friend. Conservatives should call more often for a vote.

Take Adelaide’s Unley Council, which last year decided Australia Day was too divisive to hold citizenship ceremonies.

But then it asked ratepayers what they thought. Big surprise: most who responded thought the ban was dumb, so the council last week changed its mind.

Mayor Michael Hewitson blamed the initial ban on some councillors living in a “echo chamber”.

Most people who responded thought the ban on Australia Day citizenship ceremonies was dumb. Photo: Jody D'Arcy

Our ruling class likewise once seemed to think “everyone” was behind Labor’s Voice, a kind of Aboriginal-only advisory parliament, and why wouldn’t they?

Universities declared their support, as did leaders of all the big faith groups and sports codes, and almost every celebrity with an opinion.

Without a vote, the Voice would be here already. But changing our constitution is still one thing that requires a vote, and 60 per cent of Australians said no.

Kamala Harris has just had a similar shock. The leaders of the Teamsters, America’s biggest private-sector union, have backed every Democrat presidential candidate since Bill Clinton.

But this time they consulted their 1.3 million members, and 59.6 per cent of those who voted electronically backed Donald Trump. Just 34 per cent wanted Harris, the Democrat.

It’s easy to think of other bubbles that might pop if the public were given a pin.

With so many debates now shouted down in our cancel culture, and so many people in social media echo chambers, here are just some questions I’d love Australians to vote on.

Should we scrap welcome to country ceremonies?

Should we fly just one flag – the Australian – and not three, including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ones?

Should we fly just one flag? Picture: David Caird

Should the law define women as biological females?

Should protest marchers stick to the footpath, and not block the street?

Should shareholders be asked first before companies use their money to back political causes such as the Voice?

Should wind towers be banned unless most locals agree to their landscape being scarred?

I don’t mean just a vote in an election. The elected Albanese government lost the vote for the Voice, yet will probably be re-elected.

Give people more votes. I bet the elite would hate it.

Originally published as So many people are in social media echo chambers