The Welsh Assembly

[DaveR]

I had to laugh at this comment on the BBC website:

"Welsh Conservative and No voter Bill Hughes says: "The party will move on, and we belong to the United Kingdom which to me is very very important, particularly given the non-productivity within Wales.""

He doesn't seem to realise that the poor state of the Welsh economy is down to being run by an completely indifferent London Parliament for several hundred years...

[brumbob]

My knowledge of politics is virtually nil
but YES is good isn't it?
Is this the same as devolution in Scotland?

[Merddin Emrys]

He doesn't seem to realise that the poor state of the Welsh economy is down to being run by an completely indifferent London Parliament for several hundred years...

some would say that they've not done any better in large parts of England, roughly anywhere over 50 miles from London!

[Ian]

I agree.  That's what concerns me;  where will the devolution bandwagon end? Will Liverpool make a UDI?

[DaveR]

If it is the will of the people, then why not?

[Fester]

I am waiting for the sea levels to rise over the next few years, and then I shall declare independance for The Great Orme. 

[Yorkie]

I'm all for that - The Little Orme can be another dependency!     

[Fester]

...and Brian Thomas will be crowned KING of The Great Orme.

[Ian]

If it is the will of the people, then why not?

But how many people?

[Yorkie]

At least a dozen of us!        ZXZ   Z**    D)

[DaveR]

If it is the will of the people, then why not?

But how many people?

The majority. 

[Fester]

Yes...the majority of the minority!

Basically 80% of the electorate either voted NO, or couldn't be bothered to vote.   So YES wins!

Isn't democracy wonderful?

[Ian]

And therein lies the problem.  Democracy is only effective when the vast majority of those involved either want it to work or don't care about apparently minor changes.   As you say, F, the Yes vote was achieved through 66% of a miserable  35% turnout.  Perhaps we should have had a finite percentage required:  say, more than 50% of the eligible voting population.

If it is the will of the people, then why not?

But how many people?

The majority.

The majority of what?  I can't remember a government in the past fifty years that has been elected by a majority of the electorate, let alone a referendum question being decided by one.

[DaveR]

Yes...the majority of the minority!

Basically 80% of the electorate either voted NO, or couldn't be bothered to vote.   So YES wins!

Isn't democracy wonderful?

The point is everyone had the opportunity to vote. They also had the choice whether to vote or not. So the result is perfectly valid.

Who can say whether the people who didn't vote would have voted YES or NO?  

What's very noticeable is how support for devolution has grown steadily in Wales. Back in the 1979 Referendum, 79% of people voted NO - there has been a complete turnaround from that situation now.

Fe Godwn Ni Eto.  

[DaveR]

And therein lies the problem.  Democracy is only effective when the vast majority of those involved either want it to work or don't care about apparently minor changes.   As you say, F, the Yes vote was achieved through 66% of a miserable  35% turnout.  Perhaps we should have had a finite percentage required:  say, more than 50% of the eligible voting population.

If it is the will of the people, then why not?

But how many people?

The majority.

The majority of what?  I can't remember a government in the past fifty years that has been elected by a majority of the electorate, let alone a referendum question being decided by one.

Did you vote, Ian?