Should we have more referendums?

[Fez909]

I've quite enjoyed the actual voting bit of today, if not the campaign. I think we should get more say over matters that affect us. There are better ways to have more democracy, but given the current system of parliamentary (mis)representation is likely here to stay for a while yet, would more referendums be a good idea?

I'm thinking something along the lines of the Swiss model. I think it works a bit like this: if a petition gets over x amount of signatures, then it goes to a referendum, and it is binding. I think they have one or two referendums a year, so it's not like they're being asked to trudge out to the polling station every week. And you vote on multiple issues on each polling day.

We already have the infrastructure in place in the form of the petitions site. Instead of it going to a Westminster debate where it is ignored, we could just put it to the people?

 

[Orang Utan]

Fuck no, not if they're conducted in the way this one has.

 

[bi0boy]

I wonder how many millions of hours are used by people organising and campaining and debating in a referendum. If we did this for every issue that aroused passions we'd never get anything done.

 

[joevsimp]

Maybe, I'd kind of like there to be more but they aren't really part of our political culture. In Ireand and Switzerland they are part of the normal process but here we seem to be fighting them based on personalities and scaremongering rather than the issues.

if its such an important issue for Britain's economy and international standing, why can't we have a referendum on Trident as well?

 

[marty21]

We need a referendum to vote on whether we need more referenda

 

[Hocus Eye.]

I've quite enjoyed the actual voting bit of today, if not the campaign. I think we should get more say over matters that affect us. There are better ways to have more democracy, but given the current system of parliamentary (mis)representation is likely here to stay for a while yet, would more referendums be a good idea?

I'm thinking something along the lines of the Swiss model. I think it works a bit like this: if a petition gets over x amount of signatures, then it goes to a referendum, and it is binding. I think they have one or two referendums a year, so it's not like they're being asked to trudge out to the polling station every week. And you vote on multiple issues on each polling day.

We already have the infrastructure in place in the form of the petitions site. Instead of it going to a Westminster debate where it is ignored, we could just put it to the people?

Steady on, you will be asking for Democracy next - no chance.

 

[Vintage Paw]

Yes. They bring out the best in people.

 

[Fez909]

Fuck no, not if they're conducted in the way this one has.

This one is a bit of a special case, though. And so emotive. Imagine having referendums on things like "should all schools be academies?", "should marajuana be legalized for medicinal purposes?" and "should Britain allow in refugees from Syria?"

They're be emotive still, but nowhere near the level of what we've seen recently. And we'd get used to them. And the campaigners wouldn't be able to spend as much if there were multiple issues, every year.

 

[Vintage Paw]

Would we get so used to them that we'd get bored of them and turnout would be 26% though?

 

[Fez909]

if its such an important issue for Britain's economy and international standing, why can't we have a referendum on Trident as well?

This would be an excellent referendum question, IMO. Wish I'd thought of it in my examples.

 

[Orang Utan]

This one is a bit of a special case, though. And so emotive. Imagine having referendums on things like "should all schools be academies?", "should marajuana be legalized for medicinal purposes?" and "should Britain allow in refugees from Syria?"

They're be emotive still, but nowhere near the level of what we've seen recently. And we'd get used to them. And the campaigners wouldn't be able to spend as much if there were multiple issues, every year.

They may not be as divisive (though I beg to differ on the refugee question), but just as much misinformation and outright lies would be propogated.

 

[weltweit]

This referendum has cost me a lot of emotional energy and wasted a lot of time, and when one considers it was promised / called just and only because Cameron wanted to keep his party together when fighting the last election, it was arguably not justified anyhow.

There is an argument that we elect our MPs to take decisions for us.

 

[Artaxerxes]

Lets get one on Trident.

Fuck Trident.

 

[weltweit]

Trident, our only MAD defence against that country at the other end of the tunnel!

 

[NoXion]

More referenda would be good, but only if they are legally binding.

 

[weltweit]

This has been an important issue so I expect turnout should be good, but how many other issues are there of similar importance which could have the same turnout?

 

[Fez909]

This has been an important issue so I expect turnout should be good, but how many other issues are there of similar importance which could have the same turnout?

That's the thing, it wouldn't have to be single issues. Wait until there's 5 issues to vote on, then call the referendum. There's bound to be at least one in each round of voting that people feel strongly enough to get out and vote on.

I don't think every decision should be in a referendum on its own.

 

[Ax^]

for Scotland and Welsh independence after the EU vote


lets see them sell the better off together line now

 

[Vintage Paw]

for Scotland and Welsh independence after the EU vote


lets see them sell the better off together line now

Nicola Sturgeon managed it the other way around. She has sounded quite convincing when challenged on what some might see as hypocrisy.

 

[bi0boy]

That's the thing, it wouldn't have to be single issues. Wait until there's 5 issues to vote on, then call the referendum. There's bound to be at least one in each round of voting that people feel strongly enough to get out and vote on.

I don't think every decision should be in a referendum on its own.

I don't think it's a good idea to have lots of referendums at once, as people won't be inclined to consider each question in depth.

I also don't think it's a good idea for important questions to be decided only by those who feel strongly about the issue.

 

[Fez909]

I don't think it's a good idea to have lots of referendums at once, as people won't be inclined to consider each question in depth.

I also don't think it's a good idea for important questions to be decided only by those who feel strongly about the issue.

If people only feel strongly about one issue, they'll still vote on the others...why not? They're already in the booth.

Plus, it's not like every decision is gonna be subject to a referendum. Only those that enough people have petitioned the government on. So they're likely to be 'big' issues anyway, so people will already have thought about them and done their research.

 

[Gromit]

After the huge number of idiots who have blindly believed Boris' bullshit. (BBBB) i'm afraid of us ever having a referendum again.

Priminister Boris will be like should we nuke Germany to make our NHS great again?
And the idiots will be like yeah if we don't the immigrants will steal our children and eat them.

 

[PursuedByBears]

Like bringing back the death penalty? That'll be a popular one.

 

[Orang Utan]

I don't think it's a good idea to have lots of referendums at once, as people won't be inclined to consider each question in depth.

I also don't think it's a good idea for important questions to be decided only by those who feel strongly about the issue.

there's the rub. to take the example of drugs, way more anti people would vote to keep them illegal

 

[SE25]

not if they're as ugly as this one

 

[Puddy_Tat]

should there be a referendum to settle whether it's 'referendums' or 'referenda'?

 

[HoratioCuthbert]

After the huge number of idiots who have blindly believed Boris' bullshit. (BBBB) i'm afraid of us ever having a referendum again.

Priminister Boris will be like should we nuke Germany to make our NHS great again?
And the idiots will be like yeah if we don't the immigrants will steal our children and eat them.

clusterfuck of hyperbole, worryingly suspect it's not intended to be

 

[Fez909]

should there be a referendum to settle whether it's 'referendums' or 'referenda'?

more referendas: yes or no?

 

[HoratioCuthbert]

I've had a good one and a shit one, I do enjoy the excitement of a massive system fuck up. Gies another twa three and I'll make up my mind.

 

[HoratioCuthbert]

I stuck a yes badge on my sons jacket to his joy, but i had to key it down a bit with leave. Swings and that.