Guest moon Posted June 30, 2003 Report Share Posted June 30, 2003 I just cannot see any British government using them on a regular basis,The media will force the issue. Newspapers will run electronic referenda simultaneously with conventional elections. Lottery machines could very easily be adapted for use by the general public. Software and hardware companies will vie for the contracts and lobby out of their own interests. Electronic results will be available within an hour of 'booths' closing. Television and radio will carry them to fill the current void. The pressure to adopt electronic means will be overwhelming, speed, cost, accuracy and popularity overcoming resistance to change. Human Rights groups will accept ID cards in exchange for the greater freedom of true democracy. Education will flourish again as the realisation that everybody is important sinks in. Furthermore, as the technology allows the population in the main to draw abreast of events, so the possibilities will arise of drawing ahead of events. That's when the real power of Internet communication will be released.Spammers, quit now while you're ahead :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LB Posted June 30, 2003 Report Share Posted June 30, 2003 moon,i like the idea of what you are suggesting but i think that unfortunately it is a long way away, if indeed it will happen at all.Remember the rose tinted idealists of the 1950's? (i personally don't but have seen lots of footage) The idea that the press will latch onto anything without the word beckham or sex is ludicrous, they are out to sell as many papers as possible and thats it, sod public interest! With all due respect to Andsome, silver surfers aren't that numerous and new technology is always slow to be adapted especially by the "older" generation and for this alone i cannot see this situation happening in my lifetime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankus Posted June 30, 2003 Report Share Posted June 30, 2003 It may not be apathy thats reduced the turnout at the polls ,but perhaps, disgust ....? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted July 1, 2003 Report Share Posted July 1, 2003 With all due respect to Andsome, silver surfers aren't that numerous and new technology is always slow to be adapted especially by the "older" generation and for this alone i cannot see this situation happening in my lifetime.I for one have no objection to true progress, and welcome advanced technology. I think you would be surprised if you were able to pop in and look at day time or evening classes in computer usage, you would find the over fifties well represented. I just cannot however see any British government actually allowing government by referendum. It is the very nature of politicians more often than not, once they are in power to run things to suit their own selfish ends, and actually allowing us to have a periodic say is just not on. Why have referendums on important issues when they can force them through, and later, nearer to election time create a smoke screen to draw attention away from previous misdemeanours. As I said earlier, at present most people do not want to be part of the Euro, but the campaign is already just starting to convince us all that we will die without Europe. Regarding electronic polling, yes I can see that eventually happening as we are dragged into the twenty first century. With respect however Moon, you have to appreciate the fact that Britain is still a very old fashioned society, steeped in tradition, much of which is very very outdated. Witness the fact that only last night we got a first reading of a bill through parliament to stop hounding fox's to their deaths, by idiotic blood hungry thugs in fancy dress. Whiteness the bowing and scraping which still goes on in this country to so called royalty and aristocracy, (yes ma'am, no ma'am, three bags full ma'am). I just don't think that I will live long enough to see a truly democratic Britain, run by the people, for the people, with everyone equal. We seem doomed to live in yesteryear in many respects, whilst being pushed into situations which the majority do not want in other respects. Hence the monarchy and aristocracy on one hand, and Europe on the other.RANT OVER Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest moon Posted July 1, 2003 Report Share Posted July 1, 2003 Silver Surfers are cool, andsome. They maintain spelling grades, keep apostrophes in the correct positions and gamers in their places :D Your monarchy, and all the historic trappings, are museum pieces. That's the attitude in Oz, anyway, and we elected to keep the showcase open. They're great for your tourist industry and help prevent the drabness of states like France and Germany. Keeping the monarchy is a trump card in the anti EU state game.I don't think that government by referenda is as far away as it seems. Just about every pc forum has a 'polling' facility and it wouldn't take a huge leap in imaginative prowess to extend it to local, then national issues. We just need to provide everybody with the means, tutorial and maintenance. That's what sites like this are about, isn't it ? Add the influence of discussion forums and we're nearly there. B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted July 1, 2003 Report Share Posted July 1, 2003 Thanks Moon for the cool bit. Spelling standards are easy to maintain if people would only take the time to use a spell check. For those who missed it here is a link for an internet explorer spell check, which enables online spell checking. After installing it go to Tools and change the language to English U.K.http://www.iespell.com/PS. Now let's get back to EUROPE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest moon Posted July 1, 2003 Report Share Posted July 1, 2003 OK, well, when the Euro referendum comes, as it inevitably will, there will probably be an electronic component. It's already been trialed, as you said yourself. From this government's viewpoint, pro-euro, the results of that electronic component will be analysed to try to guage the opinion of the Internet community. It seems to me that general online opinion is anti-euro. When that is clear to this government they will have to make a decision on either assisting or hindering the electronic referenda cause. We should all be monitoring this extremely important issue and vote for whichever party assists it, irrespective of our current political inclinations. Peeps power first, and then refine things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankus Posted July 1, 2003 Report Share Posted July 1, 2003 Cheesy thinks that we are too stupid to make the correct (his) decision .(after all there are still people out there who still trust him !.) So not much will happen either way unless the result can be manipulated or achieved in his favour... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted July 1, 2003 Report Share Posted July 1, 2003 Cheesy thinks that we are too stupid to make the correct (his) decision .(after all there are still people out there who still trust him !.) So not much will happen either way unless the result can be manipulated or achieved in his favour...Exactly the point I have been trying to drive home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest moon Posted July 1, 2003 Report Share Posted July 1, 2003 The wording of the referendum is likely to be the most scrutinised document in the history of British politics. No hope for manipulation there ! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankus Posted July 1, 2003 Report Share Posted July 1, 2003 When...? and the results... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest moon Posted July 1, 2003 Report Share Posted July 1, 2003 LOL ! Summer 2012, 68% turnout, 62% 'No'. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankus Posted July 1, 2003 Report Share Posted July 1, 2003 I just love your overly optimistic viewpoint of life ...moon...... arf arf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest moon Posted July 1, 2003 Report Share Posted July 1, 2003 Well it's better than being a miserable bugger. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankus Posted July 1, 2003 Report Share Posted July 1, 2003 Ive been under andsome's expert tutelage , I think that the hard work is finally paying dividends..... (sterling)..........Thinking of moving to Tunbridge wells and changing my surname to disgusted....! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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