[Zumzoa]

However, this system also blunts such 'radical edges' as civil unions, equalizing the age of consent, reform of drug laws and large infrastructure reforms.

[arethuza]

We should have some way of the public identifying "extraordinary" issues (e.g. online petitions) and then having periodic referendums where the public can vote directly on these topics.

Otherwise, as you point out, there are many topics that will simply be ignored.

[pbhjpbhj]

We do have an online petition system, http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/.

I'll agree that we need some system like that in Switzerland where a large enough proportion of the population can force a referendum.