Are rare referendums counterproductive?

[Lynx122]

I feel like in general it's a good thing that the population can directly decide on issues. In Switzerland we vote on things like 3 to 4 times a year and some of the issues are really important and can shape the future of the country and some are less impactful. I feel like it gives the population a sense of responsibility for the countries wellbeing and like everybody is included. But when I look at countries where most of the time the population has no direct influence but then rarely they have a referendum like the Brexit vote for example then people instead of feeling included and feeling like they need to make a responsible decision for the future of their country they just want to stick it to the people who are making the decisions because they don't feel represented or heard.

I feel like this can lead to very unexpected and irrational results because people are not actually voting on the issue they're just trying to rebel like kids in school who wanna break the rules or something like that.

So instead of reflecting the will of the people it becomes an outlet for the anger people feel at a system that is not representing them but then it can lead to decisions that make things even worse. Like electing a right wing extremist like almost happened in France or Brexit in the UK or things like that. The average person then suffers even more because of a decision that was made out of emotions.

This is just a observation. Maybe if more countries would empower their population on a regular basis it could prevent people from gravitating to extremes as much.

What do you think?

[RavVid]

In Australia referendums only apply to constitutional changes. To pass it requires a majority of the people and a majority of the 6 states i. e. 4. It is difficult to achieve unless supported by both major parties. Most of the time it is the left wing party that puts up referendum and most of the time they get voted down.

There is one shortly to do with indigenous people. It is meant to make us feel good and help them but there is no real explanation how that happens. I think it will follow the traditional pattern and be lost.

The main reason for referendums being lost is that the referendum is a woke left concept. only 8 out of 44 have passed. The last to pass was in 1977 with changes to voting rights on referendums

A plebiscite is not a constitutional change and is essentially an opinion poll vote and might be on a contentious issue. It has no standing in our constitution. There have been only two both on conscription in WW1 and both were lost.

Polls or surveys have been used as postal ballots. Again no standing in our constitution. This was done with gay marriage last

There is no concept of a referendum passing legislation and as referendum are only for constitution change and plebiscite/Poll/Survey are only opinions. I would like it if there was.

[RavVid]

I strongly disagree with your opinion on lost referendum is like kids acting up.

I also disagree with comments on the extreme right. I think those are right wing parties and the extreme cones from the left being in extreme disagreement with the right and therefore calling them extreme right. It couldn't the left at fault could it?

On stuff like Brexit it is like a portion of the people were being screwed all the time and they knew it. It happen in Australia. It happened in the US. Overall it was handle best in Australia in my opinion. A substantial group of people should not be screwed all the time and it is right they should take the political power they do have and use it.

While I disagreed on this aspect, it is a good question and I look forward to other answers

[Jamie05rhs]

Interesting theory. Yes, maybe there should be more referendums. (You'd have to secure the voting systems, though.)

[Jamie05rhs]

Thanks for the MHO!

[MattStoney]

Hey thanks for the follow

[purplepoppy]

Yes. You've only got to look at Brexit in the UK or Scottish independence refs. People treat them as if they were nothing more than local byelections without considering the long term impact. For many they're nothing more than protest votes. In truth most people aren't intelligent or well formed enough to make big decisions.

[Lynx122]

I do think if people get "trained" so to speak by having to do it more often it would change. You can't protest vote when in a few months you have to vote again and you have to deal with the fallout of your decisions yourself. It will make people change their mindset quickly.

[Anonymous]

No. Take the US politicians would never allow a referendum on anything

[Anonymous]

I would like to see everything put up to referendum votes. Politicians are all corrupt.

[In_Trance]

smokeshow