To think you should have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the facts before being allowed to vote

[Bearbehind]

Ok, I appreciate this is purely hypothetical is it could never be enforced but, it does astound me when a proportion of the electorate, albeit hopefully small, are so clueless they come out with comments like I've seen this morning which included:-

-Looking forward to doing some online shopping for items from the USA as they'd be cheaper now the pound has dropped

-Being surprised that the markets have fallen following the vote to leave and not realising their vote would have that effect

-Thinking this decision might pave the way for Norway to hold a referendum to leave the EU too

It's bad enough we all have to filter through the outright lies, like the money saved on the EU which would go straight to the NHS, and the scarcity of facts but people making decisions when their basic understanding is so poor is downright scary.

It all boils right back down to the arrogant assumption that "if they had read the facts, they MUST come to the same decision as me, so therefore if they voted differently than me, they either don't know the facts or are too stupid to understand them."

FFS gingerivy can you not get your head around the fact this is not about which way they voted

I'm only asking for them to read the facts the rest of that sentence is bullshit.

Havn't read every post but I bet the remainers probably want people to take a test before having babies next

Many HAVE read the facts. They still voted Leave.

It all boils right back down to the arrogant assumption that "if they had read the facts, they MUST come to the same decision as me, so therefore if they voted differently than me, they either don't know the facts or are too stupid to understand them."

I'm not in the UK. I'm speaking more generally about a trend towards celebrating belligerent know nothing and you can't force me attitudes across the west. It's informing leave voters in the UK, Trump voters in the US and we are going to be extremely fortunate if the west survives it.

You keep saying you're asking people to read the facts. Your assumption is that they haven't. Logically, as you're only asking those who voted Leave to read the facts, it follows that you assume that those who voted Leave did not read the facts. And that brings us right back around to "if they had read the facts, they MUST come to the same decision as me, so therefore if they voted differently than me, they either don't know the facts or are too stupid to understand them."

You can dress it up, reword it, all you like. It's pretty clear that's where you're going with that.

No mummy it could be things like "do you understand inflation?" or something to do with interest rates, or to select how much immigration we had in the previous year. People will then research so they then have a basic understanding of it all and know the facts before saying "we have too many immigrants coming in stealing our jobs" when last year we had 0.5% of our population coming in. Things like that? OR they could have a School course directly associated to voting, governments and politics mandatory in 1st and 2nd year. Just stuff like that. I think the same should be done for credit cards, credit ratings etc so kids now what is whay when they go into the "real world".

YANBU. It is disgraceful and ridiculous that #2 searched phrase in the UK AFTER the referendum was "What is EU".

I, a working class person with no GCSE's, Agree with you.
Wholeheartedly.
In general elections also,
seeing as after the last election I overheard this conversation on the bus
''I ticked to vote for the conservatives because I don't like the tories''......
Stupid people do damage.

Logically, as you're only asking those who voted Leave to read the facts

That's where your logic is massively flawed. Nowhere have I said I'm only asking those who voted leave to read the facts. Go and bang your drum elsewhere if you're determined to make it about why people voted to Leave.

I don't care what they voted, only that their reason for doing so was based on what they believed was the right thing for the UK and not based on the flip of a coin, the naive belief that it wouldn't count or the idiotic thought that the only thing that would change is we'd get UK tomatoes and suchlike.

Many HAVE read the facts. They still voted Leave.

Exactly GingerIvy. The information, assessment of numerous facts, and different opinions have been widely available on the TV, internet, newspapers, radio, leaflets etc.

If there was some kind of test, which "facts" would be included "to make sure people understand them"?

What is the EU?

Clearly the 'facts' differ from the remain camp to the leavers it seems

So you have a vote like this where low information voters make a catastrophic decision based on prejudices unrelated to the issue at hand

It is only a catastrophic decision if you voted to remain. it is not a catastrophic decision if you wanted to leave.

Whiskey2014 What the hell middle class planet do you actually live on???

less than 60% of people have 5 GCSE's. that means on crude statistics that around 40% of the country do not read and write or add up as well as you do. And you are going to ask these people "do you understand inflation" and if they answer No what are you going to do? Show them the door and tell them you cant vote or if they say Yes just accept it. If they say yes then you and others like you are going to say "Ok then prove it" and before you know where you are there will be written tests.

so what if the number of immigrants coming in is under 1%. SO WHAT!!!

If you live in a village where you see everyone you know unemployed but people from other countries coming in and working, don't you think for one tiny weeny minute that your view is going to be SO WHAT at the less than 1% figure. Because the impact on you and your way of life is massive.

There are some people on this thread who actually need to get out more and see what is really happening in this country. Talk to people, find out their fears and worries.

How do we know all those people searching what is the EU aren't the 27% who chose not to vote? answer - we don't.

this boils down to one thing OP, if remain had won, this thread wouldn't be here and you wouldn't have given a shiny shit why some barely literate person had voted in because you had won.

this boils down to one thing OP, if remain had won, this thread wouldn't be here and you wouldn't have given a shiny shit why some barely literate person had voted in because you had won.

This. Exactly.

I don't care what they voted, only that their reason for doing so was based on what they believed was the right thing for the UK and not based on the flip of a coin, the naive belief that it wouldn't count or the idiotic thought that the only thing that would change is we'd get UK tomatoes and suchlike.

If you don't care what they voted, why is this even being discussed? You go on about how this monumental decision has been made to affect the whole country, and then moan about how uninformed voters will be affecting your life. It's pretty clear what you meant.

And that brings us right back around to "if they had read the facts, they MUST come to the same decision as me, so therefore if they voted differently than me, they either don't know the facts or are too stupid to understand them."

did anyone get one of those impartial eu leaflets?
I didn't
I don't know anyone who did. I did get Cameron's 9million pound leaflet though

I'm not being obtuse I am asking you a question which you haven't answered. Unless I've missed the response which is possible.

What do you think constitutes a basic understanding.

You have taken what I said about being uninformed and taken it entirely out of context you asked me why I said it, I've explained. You have actually been fairly rude to me when I'm just trying to understand your point of view, because you have contradicted yourself many times with the "I'm not saying people shouldn't vote" which goes against your thread title which you keep standing by.

I just wanted to understand why you think your view is better than others, your view IMO is not any more valid than someone who does vote for U.K. Tomatoes. My view of why I voted to stay isn't any more valid than yours it was my choice and your choice that's the way it works here it is called democracy!

I was interested in understanding your point of view, I'm fed up with it now your only interested in people supporting your point of view and quite rude to others.

There is no such thing as impartial facts. all facts are someones interpretation of the evidence.

GingerIvy I don't know about you but I am now utterly bored of trying to show the importance of one person one equal vote in a democracy.

clearly some on this thread have never experienced any sort of disappointment in their lives or ever been told "No, you cant have that"

they are just so entitled that they cannot understand that out in the real world there are people who - shock horror - are not LIKE THEM.

They are the sort of dangerous people that erode my rights.

There is no arguing with them or trying to reason with them.

"There is no such thing as impartial facts. all facts are someones interpretation of the evidence."

You don't seem to know the meaning of the word "fact".

mummymeister I've been thinking the same thing. Engaging with this type of nonsense only makes them feel they are making headway when in actuality it's just highlighting their problems.

Perhaps our time (and theirs) would be better spent in focusing on the future and making this exit from EU a positive thing. Already things are stabilising financially, and once people stop running around like headless chickens and realise the sky is actually still up there, and not falling, perhaps they will calm down. One can only hope.

I think I will just leave the OP to go around in circles and let her keep denying what is patently obvious.

"Already things are stabilising financially, "

Pray tell, how exactly are things stabilizing financially already? Pound went down by 7% against the Dollar and over 6% against the Euro yesterday. Gold price shot up. Moody's just downgraded UK's outlook to "Negative".

What exactly is already stabilized? I really would love to hear you explain that one.

I'll tell you mummy. People voted to leave "because of immigration". That's is very poor. If you ask them what percentage it is they'd probably say 60% are immigrants and it's that lack of understanding you need to make sure they aren't going to vote on.

You're right gingerivy and mummymeister, there is no point in continuing this discussion as we will never agree.

I'd hoped people would vote with sufficient integrity and understanding that they'd at least stand by their decision yet just a few hours after the result there was a rush of people 'shit, how did that happen' and that dismays me.

clearly some on this thread have never experienced any sort of disappointment in their lives or ever been told "No, you cant have that"

Really? I've never had the experience of waking up after a vote and feeling yes, I made a contribution towards that outcome. So, I've spent my entire adult life making the best of it, quietly, harmoniously. Questioning a process on an internet thread is the reach of my voice, the extent of my power in action. And, I'm not questioning other people deciding to vote a different way to myself, I am concerned about the responsibility that comes with voting. If you think no one has any responsibilities, just rights then... Along with the expressions in this thread, I feel sorry for me too.

I'll leave you to it then.

How about of you had to do a tutorial of how voting worked. For example the difference between how general elections are counted by wards and referendums are done as every vote counts. Nothing to do with the case for for and against but would make shore people understood what the process was.

Would you like voting to be mandatory? I would. Even if there was a box on the ballot paper saying you decided to abstain. Removes the cba approach.