tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33150821.post3879854246218267147..comments2023-05-15T03:02:07.588+12:00Comments on Better Democracy NZ: Get cracking on referendum actSteve Baronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18231150911705855174noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33150821.post-21416244418367364272009-06-29T13:09:55.679+12:002009-06-29T13:09:55.679+12:00Paulinem, you hit the nail on the head: well over ...Paulinem, you hit the nail on the head: well over 300,000 New Zealand citizens signed the petition for a referendum. They would not have done so had they been at all confused by the question. The question is "confusing" only to those who wish to make it appear so. The concerted attacks on the whole notion of referendums is showing just how low the enemies of real democracy can sink.<br />We have a tough fight ahead of us, so we must pull together and attack the attackers head on.<br />There can be no half-measures: either referendums are binding or they are a fraud designed to allow us to "have our say" but *not* to assert our will.<br />But even this non-binding one is giving the political establishment and its hangers on a scare. They desperately want to scupper it to avoid having to confront the massive "NO" that they can see looming up in front of them like a political tsunami!Dominic Baronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00745045046621765166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33150821.post-45100388658917092042009-06-23T21:54:52.846+12:002009-06-23T21:54:52.846+12:00I am getting a little .... at the bullshit arrogan...I am getting a little .... at the bullshit arrogance of the anti smacking referendum ... they had thier chance to do make changes or kick up a fuss when the petition was circulated ..lets get it right over 300,000 including me signed the petition. If the wording was as bad as the proponents are trying to insinuate there is no way so many would have signed the petition <br /><br />The wording is totaly correct especially after how the Christchurch dad was treated by the act. Parents need support and encouragement, they need to be encouraged to take an interest in their kids. Now thanks to a women who instead of offering the father support and assitance when he had his troubles with his kids, she choose to instead make his life a living hell with reporting him to the police and demanding charges be laid just to suit her own twisted agenda Now as result this Christchurch guys and his family life has been turned upside and he has been branded a ciminal.<br /><br />Its why I will be voting NO in the referndum As far as the arrogance of the politicians what else is new but what the heck can we do about it BUT REMIND them come election time.paulinemhttp://betterdemocracy.co.nznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33150821.post-33054985420984553172009-06-23T16:24:00.759+12:002009-06-23T16:24:00.759+12:00As I have said in the press release posted on this...As I have said in the press release posted on this blog, there is a need for tighter controls around referendums, and not just the wording of referendums.<br /><br />My antenna always goes up though, when I hear comments like those of belingwe...who is suggesting "government by referenda"? This is one issue and one issue alone. It is not government by referenda and very few, if any, are suggesting full blown direct democracy to replace representative democracy. Both can work arm in arm.<br /><br />While checks and balances need to be put in place as belingwe suggests, what checks and balances are in place for representative democracy? One vote every three years? As for mob rule or tyranny of the majority as some refer to, what about tyranny of the minority as we currently have through Cabinet government, where a small number of people decide the future of us all? Some will argue they are answerable to parliament but if a party has a majority of representatives in parliament then there is no answerability.Steve Baronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18231150911705855174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33150821.post-88876102408243786772009-06-23T12:32:42.470+12:002009-06-23T12:32:42.470+12:00Maybe the phrasing of questions needs some refinem...Maybe the phrasing of questions needs some refinement. You only have to look at the NZ Herald opinion polls to see that many are self answering. A sensible response from government would be to put the issue to another vote if the referendum carried the day. while we have all these side issues rferenda will never become binding. Checks and balances have to be in place. government by referenda could risk becoming mob rule. there needs to be respect for individual rights.Belingwehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00873766939320071329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33150821.post-47418855813498187342009-06-23T08:22:54.209+12:002009-06-23T08:22:54.209+12:00Wether the wording is confusing the intent is clea...Wether the wording is confusing the intent is clear - should parents be criminalised for smacking a child - and John Keys intent is equally clear that he will ignore views, even majority views that differ from his own, in other words my will, will prevail and the taxpayers can get stuffed.He knows that people become disinterested in time and the John Boscowans are rare so constant long term pressure will be required to push what is becoming a world wide phenonima of voter dissatisfaction with politicians and the ignoring of public opinion - UK is a current example were referenda are gaining traction, so perhaps an e-mail campaign initially targeting all MPs with supporting MPs being left alone apart from renewed thanks and the anti's receiving concerted pressure.Rumpolenoreply@blogger.com