Class 3B were deciding where to have their picnic. Students put forward many options, such as Stanley (赤柱), Tai Mei Tuk (大尾篤) and the Wetland Park (濕地公園). But the class still could not decide.
      Their form teacher, Miss Cheung, said, "Boys and girls, the picnic is for the whole class. We need to find a place where everyone wants to go."
      When there were no suggestions she asked everyone them to vote. She wrote all the options on the blackboard. Everyone had two votes, in case two choices had the same number of votes.
      But all choices got the same number of votes! So Miss Cheung made them vote again. But now everyone could only vote once. But again all the choices ended up with the same number of votes!
      Paul, sitting at the back, yelled out, "Miss Cheung, you just pick the one you like. I don't want to think anymore."
      Miss Cheung refused. "Paul, I don't want to make the decision alone. I want everyone to vote so everyone has a chance to give a suggestion just like in a democracy."
      Claire in the front row said, "Miss Cheung, we don't want democracy. We can't seem to decide on our picnic place."
      Miss Cheung replied, "But it's very important for everyone to be happy."
      Jason raised his hand so that he could speak. He said, "Miss Cheung, if you want to stick to democracy and everyone to say where they would like to go, why don't we have another vote? But this time on whether we want democracy or the right to say what we want."
      This time the class voted against democracy!
      Jason then spoke to the whole class, "Well, we finally have a result. Everyone got to vote and say what they wanted. We decided not to have democracy. We do not want everyone to give suggestions. Miss Cheung, please pick the place you like and we will just go with it."

      Questions
      1. Why did the class want Miss Cheung to decide the picnic venue?
      2. Why did Miss Cheung think everyone needed to vote?

      Think about it
      If we democratically choose to give up democracy, is the choice still democratic? If everyone gets a chance to vote and decides to give it up, then the process should be democratic. But there will be people who would not want to give up democracy. Their choice will not be honoured because they were out-voted by those who wanted to give up democracy.

      Answers
      1. They could not decide upon a venue that was liked by all.
      2. She thought it was necessary for everyone to express their choice of venue so that everyone was happy.

      Text: Raymond Chan  Illustration: William Ma