Comments on: after the Irish ‘no’ vote

By: Kaihsu Tai

Kaihsu Tai — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:17:04 +0000

Now you can talk about this at the European Citizens’ Consultation: debate; vote.

By: Kaihsu Tai

Kaihsu Tai — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:15:24 +0000

European Parliament (Wednesday, 18 June 2008 – Strasbourg): Preparation of the European Council following the Irish referendum (19/20 June 2008) (debate)

By: Kaihsu Tai

Kaihsu Tai — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:45:25 +0000

Monica Frassoni and Daniel Cohn-Bendit: Irish No to Lisbon Treaty: Black Friday for Europe.

By: Adam Villani

Adam Villani — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:51:31 +0000

I’ve long been pretty disenchanted with the initiative-and-referendum process in California, too. Propositions often have effects or loopholes that aren’t publicized well, which is a big problem. The other problem is basically that really it’s the legislature’s job to make laws. When the legislature is reviewing a bill, they get to evaluate it more thoroughly, amending it or making compromises. When you see a proposition on the ballot as a voter, though, you only get to vote yes or no on it. No real debate, just take it or leave it.

That being said, I’m not entirely opposed to the initiative process, but it should really be used sparingly where a simple yes or no answer on a well-publicized, simple issue is under consideration, like an independence vote.

By: Kaihsu Tai

Kaihsu Tai — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:07:34 +0000

Caroline Lucas MEP (Green): EU must save the Charter of Rights.

By: Euro-Green

Euro-Green — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:06:45 +0000

The European Greens have long advocated an EU-wide referendum, whether on the Lisbon treaty, the constitution or a new ‘European Act for Democracy’ (which was advocated by one Green MEP, Johannes Voggenhuber). The problem with this is that it puts an immense onus on the political establishment to educate and inform its electorate about an immensely complicated international treaty. If this was impossible in Ireland, a country with a long history of referendums on often arcane matters, what hope is there for the majority of EU countries that have no such experience? Particularly in the context of an election campaign (the Greens want it on the same day as the European elections next year) when it will be swallowed up in local political issues. Referendums, whether European or national, are just too flawed. Unless all voters are compelled to attend some basic level of education on the subject on which they are voting, referendums are anti-democratic.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:23:45 +0000

Crooked Timber post on this issue. I must admit I still don't fully understand what's going on here . . . .