tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8373780254831438828.post1429963303436929886..comments2023-04-29T02:26:08.411-07:00Comments on The Harrogate Agenda: Democracy Swiss stylePete Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172420184509249126noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8373780254831438828.post-81963473228944119122021-07-17T09:38:32.829-07:002021-07-17T09:38:32.829-07:00Two minds that I have respect for are Dawkins and ...Two minds that I have respect for are Dawkins and the late Roger Scruton. Yet I believe they had one thing wrong. They both believe(d) that referendums are anti constitutional and bad things. They believed that decisions should be made through representatives. I think we've seen the disasters that has brought. I think we've seen our representatives act in the interests of themselves or small minorities.running a nation state is one thing, deciding massive changes or changes to the constitution are another.Stuarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04461710846190022092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8373780254831438828.post-2200176218249431962021-07-17T09:23:36.238-07:002021-07-17T09:23:36.238-07:00A lot of people cite Edmund Burke with his speech ...A lot of people cite Edmund Burke with his speech about owing his electors his conscience. The problem with that is elected representatives acting on behalf of vested interests rather than the good of their electors. Those representatives, and I'd say they are on the majority, have no conscience. Stuarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04461710846190022092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8373780254831438828.post-4077038976700925252021-07-01T09:32:34.017-07:002021-07-01T09:32:34.017-07:00That's good news.That's good news.Alfredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01694719785236153072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8373780254831438828.post-25796461414113929302021-07-01T08:14:28.748-07:002021-07-01T08:14:28.748-07:00As to standing as an Independent aligned to THA I ...As to standing as an Independent aligned to THA I fear you would be wasting your time and money and I speak from past experience.Niall Warryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13815435878278635965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8373780254831438828.post-12948078131767872422021-07-01T08:12:45.227-07:002021-07-01T08:12:45.227-07:00As and when required Dr North and I will lead but ...As and when required Dr North and I will lead but our, mass Gene Sharp style peaceful, protests will be internet driven with ideally regional THA Ambassadors.Niall Warryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13815435878278635965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8373780254831438828.post-24285314060006784822021-07-01T06:15:49.751-07:002021-07-01T06:15:49.751-07:00It's tempting to stand as an MP aligned to THA...It's tempting to stand as an MP aligned to THA, but I'm somewhat old for that now.<br /><br />The question, of course, is what form of leadership will come when mass 'support; for change begins to appear.Alfredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01694719785236153072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8373780254831438828.post-42780175157313697972021-06-30T14:42:13.172-07:002021-06-30T14:42:13.172-07:00I'm surprised you ask but NO we will not form ...I'm surprised you ask but NO we will not form a political party. <br /><br />The trouble is not lack of leadership but that the people are still too comfortable and simply cannot be bothered in large enough numbers. <br /><br />Proof of this point is that even Farage never got enough votes to get and MP in the Commons and as to Fox and Tice they may lead parties but they are going nowhere IMO. <br /><br />All radical political reform needs mass support but I am convinced that if our governance keeps on deteriorating then the mass support will come as will the leadership - will you lead in Swindon?! Niall Warryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13815435878278635965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8373780254831438828.post-69686346438048281702021-06-30T04:06:26.499-07:002021-06-30T04:06:26.499-07:00Another huge benefit of referendums, aka the 4th d...Another huge benefit of referendums, aka the 4th demand, is that people become politically aware, as they are involved in policy making decisions. Their ability to make informed decisions will improve the more that they are involved. <br /><br />At the moment, there is a huge gulf between the people and the decision making process, which suits those in power. We are becoming like the EU in that people vote in MEPs so some think that this is democracy, whereas MEPs have little real power in theory and even less in practice as all law making power is held by the unelected Commission. We have the power to vote in MPs, one day in 5 years, but a back bench MP has little real power against the increasingly remote inner cabal of government, whether it carries the Labour or Conservative badge.<br /><br />The people are waking up, but very slowly, demonstrated by the disparate groups that met up for the last anti-lockdown demonstration in London, which despite the huge numbers and great aerial photographs of mass crowds, was almost completely censored by the MSM - another worrying sign.<br /><br />I know that you hope for them to rise up behind THA, but without some sort of leadership, that is just not going to happen. The people will rise up behind whatever charismatic leader captures their attention. Just look at the history of rebellions to see this happen.<br /><br />Is THA going to form a political party or some other grouping? In the absence of that, people are more likely to form up behind the likes of Lawrence Fox, Richard Tice or (please no) Nigel Farage. Alfredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01694719785236153072noreply@blogger.com