TODAY - July 5
NIELS’ MORNING GREETINGS
ON: JULY 5
New edition
TODAY’s LENGTH:
This day is here
in Denmark 13 minutes shorter than June 21. Its length is 17 hours and 22
minutes – from 04.38 to 22.00.
See more – also in
English – about where you are: www.dagenslaengde.dk
TODAY’s NAME:
Today’s name is ANSELMUS’
DAY. Anselm was
archbishop of Canterbury and also author and scolastic. He was Italian
philosopher and belonged to the order of the Benedictines.
In Belgium the day’s name is SAINT ANTOINE-MARIE ZACCARIA – an Italian
leader of the counter-reformation. He lived in the years 1502-39.
TODAY’s EVENT:
1962: Algeria becomes
independent from France.
TODAY’s QUESTION:
Referendum - what is it?
Some reflections.
Brief
analysis of problems related to referenda
1.
Calling a referendum can be seen as a failure
of the representative democracy. The elected politicians give up taking a
decision and throw it to the voters
2.
But
when the referendum has decided ( especially when it’s a NO ) it is NOT the
populations, which negotiate the follow-up. In other words the voters have no
responsibility for what happens next. They have sort of a “free ride”
3.
It
is also a major problem that most questions which so far have been put to
referendum (treaties, etc.) are too complicated for voters to decide. Not
because they are stupid or ignorant – not at all. But because many very
important parts of the questions never appear to the voters. They “drown” in
the energetic fight between the NOs and the YES people. The debate most often
becomes almost a one-issue debate for all parts. The elected politicians can be expected to
have a more detailed information and view, before they take their decisions.
This is what the voters can and should expect
4.
Referenda
hardly ever deal with what the real issue is. People vote as a sort of “mood”
strongly influenced by their actual view on the government. If they dislike it
for totally other reasons they will tend to vote against the proposal of the
government – whatever is in it.
Referenda are more monitoring a “Mood” that a rational decision on the
question which has been put forward.
5.
Furthermore,
experience from many countries shows that a political confrontation in a referendum
campaign will split public opinion for many, many years to come. The debate is
so tense and emotional that people (whatever their views are) tend to stick to
their often one-track attitude – whatever happens in the future. The nation
will be split for a very long time. A serious and nuanced debate on the issues
will be very hard to get.
6.
Finally,
for these reasons it is certainly worth discussing, if referenda are the
highest and most democratic form of decision-making. They are often seen like that.
My view is that they are not. A well functioning representative democracy
is. Referenda CAN perhaps be used with
reason on single and often very emotional issues like abortion, voting rights
for women and the minimum age for voting.
QUESTION FOR TOMORROW:
The peace of
Roskilde 1658 - what
is that about ?
47 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT EUROPE:
EUROPE AT WORK www.europe-at-work.be
TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE :
1.
Yesterday’s quote:
God forbid that
we ever will experience twenty years without revolts. The tree of liberty and
freedom has from time to time to be refreshed by the blood of patriots and of
tyrants.
This was said by the American
politician Thomas Jefferson.
2.
Today’s quote:
Bankruptcy
can have three reasons: women, betting or advice from experts.
Who
among today's personalities has said that?
3. Famous
people born on this day:
1182: Francis of Assisi ( died 1226 )
1853: Cecil Rhodes ( died 1902 )
1911: Georges Pompidou ( died
1974 )
1914: Gerda Gilboe ( died
2009 )
4. Famous
people died on this day:
Niels Jørgen Thøgersen
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