Mind of Their Own

Even though 60% of the people are against the Icesave agreement, It will probably still be passed by the Althing.  Like most other of the world, this government is just as likely to fail to do the will of the people who elected them.  It has always made me wonder why it is called representative government when they really only represent their own interests. Thomas Jefferson once said "The will of the people... is the only legitimate foundation of any government".  But in Iceland it is constitutionally acceptable, believe it or not, for the members of the Althing to ignore the people who elected them.  Article 48 of the Icelandic Constitution states-Alþingismenn eru eingöngu bundnir við sannfæringu sína og eigi við neinar reglur frá kjósendum sínum. The translation being-Members of Althingi are bound solely by their conviction and not by any instructions from their constituents. Of all the articles of the constitution, the members of the Althing pay this one too much attention.

GTB

Meirihluti mótfallinn Icesave