Surely you could argue that this is our democracy working. At the last election, of the pitifully small turnout, more voted for Conservative than any other party. Diamond Dave agreed to work with the Lib Dems and between them they had a majority of the seats and also in % terms too although I have not googled to check that and cannot remember for sure. The reason for the referendum being on the news so much is that a growing number of voters are not happy with the EU so at some point if enough voters want out they will vote UKIP . The other parties have to respond to this one way or another. Some people may feel that other issues are more pressing but apparently the mass of the public are less worried about the state religion or the Supreme Court for example than they are about Europe and that is why hopefully there will be a referendum on Europe and the matter can be resolved one way or the other. Sounds like a working democracy too me if it happens. Lets hope so.
Fair dos. Good points. The reform you mention would be a good thing. It is also surely a load of baloney, in 2013, to say you'll have a referendum in 2017 (in four years time) if the Cons get back into power. That really is kicking it down the road. 4 years is quite a long time - an awfully long time to organise a simple referendum. And the Cons may well not get back into power, so then there may well not be a referendum. It's just a "jam tomorrow" tactic.
Large numbers of voters are not happy with paying taxes, with getting speeding tickets, with other people having human rights, and with lots and lots of other things. They are never allowed to vote about any of them in a referendum. Is that a "working democracy" or not?
Yes Pete, I think it is . Surely if enough people were sufficiently motivated with any of your examples, or any other topic, such as Scottish independence, they would form a political party or vote for said party to force a referendum on to the agenda. Apparently at present enough feel that way about the EU but not so about speeding tickets, taxes etc.
bleedin communist...next you'll calling for the abolition of roadside money boxes and demanding a fair days work for a fair days pay.....
Indeed, if enough people are motivated about an issue they can either form a new party or influence policies within existing parties, stand for election, and secure a majority in parliament for implementing their wishes. So why do the Eurosceptics not do that? Because over the past 40 years of trying, the Eurosceptics have never come anywhere near having a majority in parliament. The Tory party during its most Eurosceptic phase (1997-2005) was comprehensively defeated. The Referendum Party, BNP, UKIP, etc have never won a single seat, let alone a majority. Having failed utterly, comprehensively, and continually for decades in the ordinary political process, the Eurosceptics fall back on campaigning for a referendum because they think such a vote might go their way. Try this hypothetical situation: if public opinion polls showed a clear and substantial majority of voters in favour of Europe, would the sceptics be campaigning for a referendum? So much for "wanting the peoples' voice to be heard".
I can't remember which comedian said it but it still makes me chuckle, and is very true if you think about it. They said that Cameron's face looked like a "Freshly wanked cock" Bet you can't that vision out of you head now :tongue:
