Cotty is correct in describing it as "democracy in action", and it's been a long time since we've seen this level of engagement in something, but it need not have been as fraught and close to the wire as it has become.
The main cause of the problems, following the idiotic referendum, is that May and her team did not consult anyone else about the type of Brexit or long-term relationship with Europe that a majority could at least live with. Instead they invoked article 50 almost immediately, and without a plan, drew up a set of 'red lines' which are unacceptable to at least half of the country, took a binary in/out approach to the whole thing, and she will not shift despite the overwhelming opposition to her approach. Almost everyone I know voted Remain [1], which means I live in a "metropolitan elite" bubble, but we do make up 48% of the people who voted in the referendum, and it is not democratic to dismiss or ignore us. The very large crowds of protesters are us asserting ourselves. Most of the people I know accepted the result of the Referendum, and I suspect still do. Signing petitions and going on marches calling for a second [2] referendum is I think largely a way of making our voice heard in opposition to the catastrophic balls-up that the Tories have made of it, even though I'm not wholly convinced that another referendum yet is a good idea. To me the sensible, democratic way forward is what they should have done in the first place. Withdraw article 50 with a binding commitment to re-invoke it at the end of a consultation and decision-making process. Set up an independent royal commission or similar, across the various political fragments to consult people here about what type of Brexit they could live with, discuss (not negotiate from fixed positions) with the EU what is reasonable and acceptable, agree a plan, re-invoke A50. If during that consultation it becomes clear that a very substantial majority no longer want Brexit, then another referendum at the end of the process on a set of options with transferable votes might be justifiable. I look forward with great anticipation to the collapse of the Conservative party. Nice to know it's all keeping Stef busy. [1] the only Leave voters I know are in their 80s and 90s... [2] actually it would be a third. The first one was held a few days after my 18th birthday, and was the first time I ever voted - Remain. Leavers who criticise calls for another one conveniently forget that they spent all their time since 1974 fighting against Europe and calling for another referendum. What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. > On 30 Mar 2019, at 02:04, Daniel J. Matyola <[email protected]> wrote: > > Thanks, Cotty. That is an interesting perspective, and just the sort of > thing I was seeking. > > On this side of the pond, we don't know enough about the issues or the > personalities to make any sense of what's happening. The videos of > demonstrations in the streets certainly make it clear that emotions are > running strong on both (all) sides. > > Dan Matyola > http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/danieljmatyola > > >> On Fri, Mar 29, 2019 at 6:20 PM Steve Cottrell <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Hey, it's life Jim, but not as we know it :-) >> >> I think what most people (Brits included) fail to understand is that what >> we are seeing is the parliamentary process. It's our democracy in action. >> You might think it's broken - I know a lot of people do - but actually it's >> not. >> >> The thing that should never have happened was the original referendum back >> in 2016. That was what stymied us all. If the vote had been (say) a 60/40 >> split then we'd perhaps not be in this pickle right now. Because it was a >> 52/48 split in favour of leaving Europe - well, that's basically a recipe >> for disaster. We are not used to referenda - it's extremely unusual for us. >> So we can't really deal with it. David Cameron should have been shot for >> even the thought of a referendum (IMHO). >> >> But we are where we are, and (believe it or not) our democracy is in >> progress - and it will resolve. >> >> Giving us TV crews plenty of work, that's for sure! >> >> For those that know him, Stefan is working flat out for various >> broadcasters covering events in Westminster, literally in the thick of it. >> Attaboy. >> >> I'm doing a fair bit but out in the regions where it's a little less noisy >> ;-) >> >> Top tips for the next few weeks: watch the Tory party implode on itself, >> Theresa May will resign shortly. If Labour had *any* sense at all they >> would oust Jeremy Corbyn (who is unelectable) and replace him with any of a >> number of Labour front-benchers and then go into the imminent general >> election on a manifesto of remaining in Europe (assuming the loooong >> extension is the de facto outcome of current proceedings, which I believe >> will happen) and they will win. Since 2016, there's three year's worth of >> fresh Euro-friendly young voters into the fold now to replace the three >> year's worth of Brexit-loving old folk who have popped their clogs, and so >> the balance will swing in favour of remain. >> >> But then there will be civil war. >> >> Oh how we'll laugh about it over a pint afterwards.... >> >> Tally ho! >> >> >> -- >> >> >> Cheers, >> Cotty >> >> >> ___/\__ UK Shoot / Edit and >> || (O) | Live Broadcast News >> ---------- <www.seeingeye.tv> >> _____________________________ >> >> >> >> -- >> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >> [email protected] >> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >> follow the directions. >> > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
