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Old 26-10-2011, 20:59   #63
Eric
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Re: Did Graham Jones do the right thing?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gayle View Post
I have a problem with referendums in one respect. We have a system whereby the constituents vote for an MP and then they should respect our views. A referendum is basically a vote of no confidence in our MPs regardless of the outcome.

But, I think there should be some mechanism whereby big, important decisions are voted on within constituencies and then that MP has to represent the majority view of the constituency. For example at election time some issues to be debated and regardless of party policy, that MP has his or her policies decided by the constituents. I'm not sure how it would work but it would avoid some of the 'whip' deciding which way to vote issues and it would also avoid some parties being able to block votes.

I hasten to add, it would probably create anarchy
Not anarchy ... chaos maybe. But I disagree that a referendum is a vote of no confidence. Referenda are useful, perhaps necessary when an issue arises that is so important to the nation that a vote, a non-partisan vote of all qualified voters is the only sane and sensible way to resolve it. I remember reading a couple of days ago that one rebel in the House stated that if the future of Britain as an independent nation was not an important enough issue on which to call for a national vote, he didn't know what was.

In a democracy, power is invested in the people. They delegate that power to representatives in the legislative assembly (for you guys, and for us, the House of Commons) .... they delegate that power, they do not surrender it. And it is this point that many politicians choose to ignore.
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