On Referenda

I don't believe in referenda. It may seem like the ideal of democracy but I feel it is less about the people's choice and more about that of media moguls and PR agents influencing the population with their distortions and half-truths.

It's not that I think the British public is inherently stupid (although there is clearly some of that too), it's just that the British public rarely have the chance to make an informed decision because they are rarely presented with the full merits and drawbacks of a proposal. Indeed campaigns often descend into emotive political posturing as has sadly already been witnessed ahead of May's referendum on voting reform.

Take the current No2AV posters which are at best misleading and at worst disgusting. Claiming that switching to AV will result in funding cuts to hospitals and the armed forces is incredibly cynical. This is for many reasons, namely there is no guarantee that this money would have been spent in those areas had it not been spent on AV whilst the Tory-led cuts will have a significantly greater impact than the £250m the No campaign claims altering the voting system will cost the country. There is a high degree of cynicism in here as many Tories back the No campaign yet are at the forefront of the current swingeing cuts (as necessary as they may be) and reforms which will have a significantly greater impact on health and defence than the money spent on AV.

Added to this is the No campaign's assertion it will cost £250m to make the switch. Again this is misleading. Part of this figure relates to the cost of the referendum itself hence it has already been spent. Furthermore £130m relates to a proposed (read not definite) idea to change to electronic voting which doesn't even hinge on AV being passed. Add to this a £26m prediction of spending on educating people about the new system. This is based on how much it cost to educate the Scots on the STV system but this method is far more complex than AV meaning education costs for AV are likely to be lower.

Two further fears I have with referenda are people's tendency to be led by the media when regarding their choices. It is no surprise to read The Telegraph is virulently for the No campaign whilst The Guardian is strongly for the Yes camp. Furthermore, I feel people will use the referendum as an anti Cameron, Clegg or Miliband vote and base their decision solely on political prejudice. This may be okay in local and general elections which hinge on party politics (although even then I would disagree) but this referendum is not particularly partisan with defectors on all sides.

All of this has nothing to do with what is best for the country and everything to do with what's best for media moguls and PR agencies, coupled with those who steadfastly vote along party lines. None of this is good in a democracy. And it's sad to see instead of having a rational national debate on the proposal, the campaigns and the media are already resorting to the use of emotive rhetoric and language which lacks any form of constructivism. Debating the issue rather than pillorying the opposition and scaring the public is surely a far more adult way to conduct political discourse. I wish we would be treated as mature adults by the powers that be.

*By the way I am undecided on AV - I think the voting system needs reform but AV is probably the worst of all worlds. I have only mentioned the No campaign above as this is the only one I have seen so far - I hope the Yes campaign is more socially responsible but I won't hold my breath.

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.

On Referenda

I don't believe in referenda. It may seem like the ideal of democracy but I feel it is less about the people's choice and more about that of media moguls and PR agents influencing the population with their distortions and half-truths.

It's not that I think the British public is inherently stupid (although there is clearly some of that too), it's just that the British public rarely have the chance to make an informed decision because they are rarely presented with the full merits and drawbacks of a proposal. Indeed campaigns often descend into emotive political posturing as has sadly already been witnessed ahead of May's referendum on voting reform.

Take the current No2AV posters which are at best misleading and at worst disgusting. Claiming that switching to AV will result in funding cuts to hospitals and the armed forces is incredibly cynical. This is for many reasons, namely there is no guarantee that this money would have been spent in those areas had it not been spent on AV whilst the Tory-led cuts will have a significantly greater impact than the £250m the No campaign claims altering the voting system will cost the country. There is a high degree of cynicism in here as many Tories back the No campaign yet are at the forefront of the current swingeing cuts (as necessary as they may be) and reforms which will have a significantly greater impact on health and defence than the money spent on AV.

Added to this is the No campaign's assertion it will cost £250m to make the switch. Again this is misleading. Part of this figure relates to the cost of the referendum itself hence it has already been spent. Furthermore £130m relates to a proposed (read not definite) idea to change to electronic voting which doesn't even hinge on AV being passed. Add to this a £26m prediction of spending on educating people about the new system. This is based on how much it cost to educate the Scots on the STV system but this method is far more complex than AV meaning education costs for AV are likely to be lower.

Two further fears I have with referenda are people's tendency to be led by the media when regarding their choices. It is no surprise to read The Telegraph is virulently for the No campaign whilst The Guardian is strongly for the Yes camp. Furthermore, I feel people will use the referendum as an anti Cameron, Clegg or Miliband vote and base their decision solely on political prejudice. This may be okay in local and general elections which hinge on party politics (although even then I would disagree) but this referendum is not particularly partisan with defectors on all sides.

All of this has nothing to do with what is best for the country and everything to do with what's best for media moguls and PR agencies, coupled with those who steadfastly vote along party lines. None of this is good in a democracy. And it's sad to see instead of having a rational national debate on the proposal, the campaigns and the media are already resorting to the use of emotive rhetoric and language which lacks any form of constructivism. Debating the issue rather than pillorying the opposition and scaring the public is surely a far more adult way to conduct political discourse. I wish we would be treated as mature adults by the powers that be.

*By the way I am undecided on AV - I think the voting system needs reform but AV is probably the worst of all worlds. I have only mentioned the No campaign above as this is the only one I have seen so far - I hope the Yes campaign is more socially responsible but I won't hold my breath.

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.