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.

costa stop twisting my words.
I was merely asking where the line would be drawn. First the people who don't pass a "test", then who would be next? The people who are deemed not to contribute enough to society? The poor? The unemployed? Where would it end? It shouldn't matter your level of intelligence (as some people seem to think), education or social standing. We are all equal. Not one of us is any better than the other. We are all free to have our own opinions and voting preferences. For what its worth I am actually currently unable to work due to ill health so I am a benefit claimant.

I haven't twisted any words

You're the one exaggerating 'who's next?'

No-one's mentioned anyone being 'next'

It's a complete non-starter, we all know that, but for people to vote leave thinking that they're vote didn't count, or that we wouldn't actually leave is just ridiculous - and there 'should' be a way to sort it

This argument belongs back in the 19th century. At that time, there was a belief amongst the propertied classes that oeople without property shouldn't be allowed to vote. Women, too...

This is what education and a free press are meant to mitigate against. Pity both of those have been neglected by the elite.

P.S. I voted remain, so am not happy with this result, but some of this arrogance is breathtaking!

This argument belongs back in the 19th century. At that time, there was a belief amongst the propertied classes that oeople without property shouldn't be allowed to vote. Women, too...

But this would have nothing to do with anyone's background or current political/financial/social standing. I don't really see any benefit in everyone having an equal voice when they don't have an equal understanding. A lot of people have voted out, then were surprised by what happened. Shouldn't they have been aware of what was going to happen before casting the vote?

No need for the face Costa.
I'm not exaggerating either. Again, I'm asking where exactly a line would be drawn hypothetically speaking. We are lucky enough to have free choice in elections, it must always stay that way.
Yes it's ridiculous but it's their choice to vote that way. I don't agree with their choice but it's theirs to make. Like I've said it's on their own conscience. The fact is some people (on all sides of every election) are just not motivated to research, watch debates etc. Nothing will change that. It's sad but it's true, but they cannot be denied a vote due to this.
My conscience is clear as I voted for the remain campaign as I genuinely believe that being in the EU is best for my family and my children. Obviously it didn't go the way I'd hoped. It sucks but that's democracy. I respect the majority vote but I don't have to like it.

Wha wha wha

Things didn't go the way I wanted so the others are wrong.

Wha wha wha

Costa - of course no one has mentioned who next but really are you so naïve not to see this?

you bring in primary legislation to make people take a test with the failures not allowed to vote. you win a landslide. so you then use a statutory instrument to ban certain other groups from voting. and before you say "no way" this is how banning holidays in term time came in. with no debate and only a handful of MP's in the chamber at the time.

bearbehind your views are identical to those of the NF and equally abhorrent. you might not like hearing that but there we are.

the sheer absolute arrogance of the remain campaign is what has led to this vote. JC could barely talk about it and certainly said nothing to make anyone even his most fervent supporters vote in. There was very much the "we know best " view from the Tories and no one on the remain side came up with compelling arguments why we should stay, only scaremongering as to why we shouldn't leave.

its the same sort of arrogance that says "if you aren't intelligent enough you shouldn't vote" so therefore highly unsurprising as an argument or viewpoint from remainers.

I am not a drum banging marching striking sort of person. but if anyone ever tried to bring in legislation as outlined in the OP then I would be out there making one hell of an almighty noise.

because this is what we live for. to be in a democracy where my view is as valid as the next persons. not some sort of value added cross for those who pass an intelligence test.

Mature brexit very mature

You win the thread

I've said where the fucking line would be drawn - am I suddenly not writing in English (there's another face for you)

Primary legislation?? FFS - it's a hypothetical idea - a good one - if it could be introduced - which it can't.

Paranoia rules (another face)

Has anyone mentioned giving more weight to younger people's votes?

Its not a good idea costa. it really, really isn't.

I agree it cant be introduced but still don't agree that it is a good idea.

shall I do a video about it so that everyone is informed of The Facts??

So you think

I think it is

Hey ho - that's life

Today has been a very sorry lesson in the fact that a worrying proportion of the electorate had no clue about what their vote meant.

And you know that for certain, do you OP? That a worrying proportion of people had no idea what they were voting for? I take it you've spoken to several million of the 33,551,983 people who voted in the referendum to be able to make such a statement? Please don't tell me you've actually had the brass neck to base such an assumption on the small handful of people you know.

I wonder if this post would be here had the remain camp won the majority? I'd bet my last penny it wouldn't be.

YABVVVVVU.

glasgowlass Hypothetically speaking, the line is drawn at some level of understanding of the situation. I don't think this could happen but in an ideal world, wouldn't we want impartial (as in, not working just for the poor or the rich or whatever, but rather everyone as a whole) people who fully understood the situation and the consequences of each outcome?

Brexit they have on other threads.

what about the bigger your salary the greater the weighting?

A 2:1 degree? well not as highly weighted as a Masters or Doctorate.

the nearer you live to London the greater the weighting because lets be fair the rest of us are just illiterate oiks (we must be because we voted brexit didn't we)

Oh and women. if they are SAHM then they definitely shouldn't have a favourable weighting.

and sick people. well what do they know, they wont be around long enough to experience the consequences.

cant understand the video of The Facts because your English isn't good enough. Oooohhh no cant give you a positive weighting.

cant read? well cant vote then.

and on, and on and on. until all that is left are "people like me"

If people admitted voting remain for stupid, ignorant, irrelevant reasons - of course it would be the same. - (multiple faces)

Costacoffeeplease

If you think that brexit's comments are immature, go look at the sweary thread about those that voted to leave, its all very high brow and mature. (sarcasm just in case posters missed it)

You do like to exaggerate, don't you mummy?

Your definition of stupid
Your definition of Ignorant
Your definition of irrelevant

Shall I put the NF application in the post Costa or will you collect one at the next supremacy rally?

Yabvvvu this is a democracy, just because you don't agree with the voting, you are being quite nasty. Bet you would not be saying that, if remain had got it.

How do you think things like apartheid started Costa?
How do you think all bigotry starts?

it starts with a simple idea about something that looks almost completely innocuous.

But this would have nothing to do with anyone's background or current political/financial/social standing. I don't really see any benefit in everyone having an equal voice when they don't have an equal understanding. A lot of people have voted out, then were surprised by what happened. Shouldn't they have been aware of what was going to happen before casting the vote?

Gradual enfranchisement went alongside extension of education (which required corresponding shortening of the working day, and regulations on child labour).

Costa How is it an exaggeration?
It perfectly highlights the 'slippery slope' concept...