Referenda are good for
democracy. It is sensible that really important issues are decided
independently by the people. However, the referendum on AV shows that campaign
funding and political support matter a great deal. In that referendum the
Conservatives, having complained at the cost of the referendum, campaigned
against it on the grounds that it was complex and would be expensive to switch
to.
The cost of switching
electoral systems would be that of a few referenda. If the Conservatives were so
worried about the cost of democracy, why are they so keen to pay it now?
In an EU referendum,
will they tell the electorate that it’s too complex for their feeble little
minds and they should just do without the EU, or will they actually educate and
explain why the EU is good for us? The referendum could be a terrible idea if
the Conservatives campaign in a negative manner. Almost all economists agree, business agrees (except JCB which got caught by the EU for unfair trading practices): staying in the EU will be a good thing.
Sometimes the right thing to do is take the time to explain something, not pander to opinions.
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