Helen wrote:

Which means missing the point of democracy; you have to persuade the others it is urgent. Once the Federation is replaced, there will doubtlessly be other urgent problems. Do people learn to vote on them, or does the person with the most power say "We do it my way, for now"? If that happens, democracy never has a chance. Begin as you mean to continue.

Generallly I agree with you. I just sympathize with Blake's impatience in certain situations. I think we have all experienced how annoying it can be when you have to persuade others about something that for you goes without saying. You, for instance, probably feel that some environmental issues are not negotiable. In Blake's case, think of slavery. I don't think he'd be very sympathetic to those who advocated it after the revolution, or that he would allow any voting over it - he'd simply abolish it.

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Does anyone remember if there is any mention of democratic elections within the federation itself?

• Iain

I don't think there is, but one thing that makes me think there is some pretense of elections is that Blake's first work was with the Freedom Party. Doesn't the word 'party' politically imply that there is room political participation among 'the people' and some form, however rigged, of election?

Not necessarily. The fact that it's called a party does not have to imply that it's officially registered or legal - but it could imply Blake's initial desire to make it legal, i.e., his desire to fight for political power peacefully.

N.