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Notes -
I’ve thought about this question a lot.
There are a few ways to slice it.
Generally defer to public opinion unless it is an area you feel really strongly on.
Generally keep your own counsel unless public opinion is very much against your position.
Some combo of the above.
I think here, with 70% against, there is a strong argument for No 2.
I suppose there's no correct answer, but once you start sacrificing your own judgement to public opinion you're on a slippery slope; surely the same principle that applies at 55% opposition applies at 70% or even 90%?
No, I think you can easily distinguish. At 55%, it is fair to describes public opinion as mixed with a slight lean. In contrast, at 70% there is a clear preference.
It reminds me of overriding a veto. You only need a bare majority to pass a law but a super majority to override a veto.
In lots of legal systems, there’s actually legal recognition of a difference between 50%+1 and a supermajority for certain purposes, so it’s fair to draw the distinction somewhere as part of democratic principles even if exactly where is arbitrary.
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