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When did levels of intelligence and/or being informed become prequisites for puting an x in a box?We would never have any elections on that basis.
Exactly. What Dawkins is saying applies to all elections. Does anyone really think that the average voter researches the manifestos, assesses the impact, weighs them up against each over?
No, they go for the media and government spin and probably whether they like the look of the leader or not.
I am fairly politically aware (and above average intelligence, awaits flaming!) but have to admit I don't fully research it. In my defence I am in a 60% Tory safe seat of forever so I don't have a vote anyway, but even so.
Of course there must be system of rules and regulations but there is really no need to create more.
I will be amazed if post brexit there were no new rules put in place by the UK government.
The majority of EU rules are more about harmonisation of rules and standards. I can't think of any significant rules that would not exist if it were for the EU. There may be small differences but its the harmonisation of rules and standards that makes working together easier.
I would go as far to say that in order to keep close ties with the EU many UK laws and standards will actually continue following EU rules and standards, but now we will have no say..
@jamba
Heath stated on many occasions on (admittedly late night TV interviews) that the direction of travel was towards ever closer union, and Powell remarked afterwards that he was amazed Heath had told the truth, and amazed that the British public had voted for it.
No-one was lied to like this time, and IIRC the public were much more engaged with politics in those days so could see through the BS.
FWIW if my parents had survived they'd have voted Remain, but unlike the Boomers they'd fought in the war and knew the alternatives to union.
Ask the average Greek about their opinion on the EU. I was in Rhodes over the summer and only had to look at the state of the place to see how much the EU & ECB care about minority member states.
These guys were riding round in 40 year old Hillman Avengers and these were the wealthy ones. I wouldn't be surprised if they soon bring back horse and carts for Council refuse collections. It was shocking to see the poverty over there wrought on them by the Troika after Syriza sold the population straight down the river.
Now I'm sure that wealthy and/or corrupt Greeks hold a big part of the responsibility but the EU only care about getting German banks' money back regardless of the cost to the average Greek.
teamhurtmore - Member
Too important to be left to the people - the contempt continuesPOSTED 1 DAY AGO # REPORT-POST
Well earned contempt, though.
Bizarre the opinion that politicians understand things any better than you average voter. At least your average voter is unlikely to have their nose in the trough.
That's the theory at any rate. And you have to concede that it would be difficult to know less about these things than your average voter.
Ignorance and corruption are two very different problems, you cannot simply hand-wave one by pointing at the other and going "look, look over there!"
Ignorance and corruption are two very different problems, you cannot simply hand-wave one by pointing at the other and going "look, look over there!"
Pretty sure you can, just not supposed too!
jamba, it is not meant as offensive, just a statement of fact as too why referendums are rarely a good idea. If the electorate do not have the facts, or are lied to then it can't work. If the electorate vote on issues other than being asked it can't work.
The treaty of rome was clear, if you didn't or can't read it then you were not fully informed.
mrmo understood, you can insult me all you like but family are a different story. How many voters read the Treaty of Rome in 1975 ? I must find the leaflet image link.
mrmo didn't bring your family into this, you did
So Richard Dawkins, a man who has spent much of his career saying that people should reject religious dogma and think for themselves, is now saying that people aren't capable of thinking for themselves and should leave the decision making to politicians. What a ***t.
is now saying that people aren't capable of thinking for themselves
Another thing he didn't say.
Well done.
[quote=mrmo ]If the electorate vote on issues other than being asked it can't work.
My mum voted leave to stop all the "****s" coming over here.
I tried to explain about ****stan not being in Europe, but "you know what I mean".
Just tell her: If we leave the EU, tighten / discourage EU immigration, and shove the value of the pound through the floor, the the increasingly misnamed "United Kingdom" is going to be a massively attractive destination for non-EU immigrants like those "****s" she hates so much.