How to bake a democracy cake

Ten easy steps to tasty politics ... 

1. Gather some friends and neighbours
2. Make sure there is enough coffee, tea and biscuits for everyone
3. Have a calm respectful discussion of the issue to be decided
4. Access information provided by advocates of the different points of view to be discussed
5. Make sure a range of opinions is represented in the discussion. Democracy cake will not rise if agreement is reached too early.
6. The discussion should have no "winner" or "loser" as this will also prevent the cake from rising
7. Bake at a very low heat for a very long time to avoid a half-baked cake
8. Once it is polling day, make sure you all vote!
9. Congratulations, you now have now baked a democracy cake. 
10. Feel free to decorate it with whatever offices of state, flags, parliaments, etc. you like