[Merged]Brexit stuff

[GB9]

Odd, I thought they'd decreed that there were to be no discussions until A50 was triggered?

They have already stated we have to accept all 'freedoms' for access to the single market. That sounds pretty much take or leave.

And I'm pretty sure there have been negotiations taking place.

[NigelJK]

I for one will be glad to see that back of that kind of 'Politics'.

[DaveB]

I don't think so. To the outsider it gives the impression that they don't care. They should be thankful they didn't reach the 50% turnout.

It's nothing to do with outsiders. This referendum was for Hungarians, not for anyone else. There was no reason they should take account of anyone else outside Hungary when conducting their campaigns. Others may have an interest in observing the proceedings, but taking results from other countries out of the context that created them and trying to make those "facts" fit your own world view is misguided.

[original PM]

It's nothing to do with outsiders. This referendum was for Hungarians, not for anyone else. There was no reason they should take account of anyone else outside Hungary when conducting their campaigns. Others may have an interest in observing the proceedings, but taking results from other countries out of the context that created them and trying to make those "facts" fit your own world view is misguided.

But I think by not voting you are turning your back on democracy.

It is not acceptable really for a 'boycott' to be counted as a vote either way.

If you are given a choice you must make a choice - either yes or no.

Apathy should not be a way to win

[DaveB]

But I think by not voting you are turning your back on democracy.

It is not acceptable really for a 'boycott' to be counted as a vote either way.

If you are given a choice you must make a choice - either yes or no.

Apathy should not be a way to win

5 million Hungarians clearly disagree with you.

[darmstadt]

Maybe you could have had a referendum in 39 to decide not to invade Poland.

That tulip kind of destroys countries quicker than a referendum.

The decision to invade Poland was actually as an indirect result of a number of referendums:

- A referendum on withdrawing from the League of Nations was held in Germany on 12 November 1933 alongside Reichstag elections. The measure was approved by 95.1% of voters with a turnout of 96.3%. It was the first of a series of referendums held by the German cabinet under Chancellor Adolf Hitler, after the cabinet conferred upon itself the ability to hold referendums on 14 July 1933.

- A referendum on merging the posts of Chancellor and President was held in Germany on 19 August 1934, after the death of President Paul von Hindenburg seventeen days earlier. The German leadership sought to gain approval for Adolf Hitler's assumption of supreme power. The referendum was associated with widespread intimidation of voters, and Hitler used the resultant large "yes" vote to claim public support for his activities as the de facto head of state of Germany.

- Parliamentary elections were held in Germany on 29 March 1936. They took the form of a single-question referendum, asking voters whether they approved of the military occupation of the Rhineland and a single party list for the new Reichstag composed exclusively of Nazis and nominally independent "guests" of the party. Like previous elections in Nazi Germany, it was characterized by high turnout, voter intimidation and a massively lop-sided result, with an official 99.0% turnout. In a publicity stunt, a handful of voters were packed aboard the airships Graf Zeppelin and Hindenburg, which flew above the Rhineland as those aboard cast their ballots.

- Parliamentary elections were held in Germany (including recently annexed Austria) on 10 April 1938. They were the final elections to the Reichstag during Nazi rule and took the form of a single-question referendum asking whether voters approved of a single list of Nazis and pro-Nazi "guest" candidates for the 813-member Reichstag as well as the recent annexation of Austria

Looks like some people don't learn from history

[GB9]

It's nothing to do with outsiders. This referendum was for Hungarians, not for anyone else. There was no reason they should take account of anyone else outside Hungary when conducting their campaigns. Others may have an interest in observing the proceedings, but taking results from other countries out of the context that created them and trying to make those "facts" fit your own world view is misguided.

So what are you observing then? That the Hungarian president isn't a hypocrite?

44% voted out of which 98% voted against. Are you claiming that the other 56% were in favour or did they just duck the issue?

You seem to be clinging to the 'boycott the vote' to justify your beliefs.

Anyway, my point is the impression it gives. In contrast, I notice the Columbians managed to vote against something they didn't agree with.

[GB9]

5 million Hungarians clearly disagree with you.

Or they just didn't care. Probably some of each.

[vetran]

So what are you observing then? That the Hungarian president isn't a hypocrite?

44% voted out of which 98% voted against. Are you claiming that the other 56% were in favour or did they just duck the issue?

You seem to be clinging to the 'boycott the vote' to justify your beliefs.

Anyway, my point is the impression it gives. In contrast, I notice the Columbians managed to vote against something they didn't agree with.

Its the EU they will keep on having referendums until they get the right result!

[NotAllThere]

I don't think so

Yes, well, but you're pig ignorant, so your opinion doesn't really count for much.

If you had any awareness of Hungary, you'd know that there was a concerted effort by opposition parties to boycott the referendum as being unhungarian and shameful.

Much of the protest was against the way the Hungarian government promoted the referendum - which makes the Brexit politicians look like paragons of virtue and varacity - for example billboards such as "“Did you know that the Paris terror attacks were carried out by immigrants?” (Which provoked the satirical response "Did you know that a tree might fall on your head?". The question itself was hardly impartially stated:

“Do you want the European Union to be able to prescribe the mandatory settlement of non-Hungarian citizens in Hungary even without the consent of parliament?”

But you probably think that's entirely truthful and accurate and see nothing wrong with it at all. (q.v. my opening sentence).