2014 European Parliament elections
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Come on, Dotini, you're better than that. In this case neutrality does not mean "tolerant", as if the rest of us aren't. Switzerland has a history of remaining neutral and independent; it is not a member of NATO nor the EU, but is a 'partner' in the former and a trade partner with the latter.
Wikipedia has its own article on the subject: Switzerland-European Union relations
Switzerland has adopted a lot of EU laws and provisions to benefit its working relationship with the countries around it and much like Norway, can afford to not be a full member due to having a major source of revenue outside of Eurozone trade; in Switzerland's case, it is financial services. The 'gnomes of Switzerland' have long ensured that the Swiss get the best of both worlds.
Carlos
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Do you think Belgium is the only country with this problem? I probably hate the EU as much as you do, but you better focus on what we need, that's not closed borders. That won't help you, me, or anybody. I think it is very important to be able to travel without problem through Europe. It's absolutely normal for people who want to work to travel to different places where they can maintain themselves. That we find ourselves too good to do some of those jobs, is our problem. Lets not flame the people that are willing to go through all that just to have a better future. It is our problem and certainly not their fault.
Dotini
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The EU election returns seem to show victory for the National Front in France.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27559714#
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27559714#
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Socialists and Populars less than 50% of the votes in Spain. Historic.
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Well, most of the UK results are in, and there seems to be a clear message from those who voted.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27567744
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27567744
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- TenEightyOne
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Pretty sad times, a wasted election. 2 out of 3 people sat at home and didn't vote. Unsurprisingly the hardcore snorters (blue blazers, biscuit trousers) made their way there.
This isn't a vote that represents anything other than a horrible apathy on the part of the British people. And this time, more than any other, they're going to suffer from it
This isn't a vote that represents anything other than a horrible apathy on the part of the British people. And this time, more than any other, they're going to suffer from it
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Goodbye Nick Clegg - the Liberal Democrats have been out-scored by the Greens, and have lost all but one MEP.
The Lib Dems are still paying the price of siding with the Conservatives in the last general election.
The Lib Dems are still paying the price of siding with the Conservatives in the last general election.
Dotini
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Pretty sad times, a wasted election. 2 out of 3 people sat at home and didn't vote. Unsurprisingly the hardcore snorters (blue blazers, biscuit trousers) made their way there.
This isn't a vote that represents anything other than a horrible apathy on the part of the British people. And this time, more than any other, they're going to suffer from it
According to the overnight radio beeb, voter participation is actually slightly up. They say there is a very clear trend - an earthquake, even - with impressive wins for UKIP, National Front and other eurosceptics across the Continent. They mention scepticism either for the union itself or for the currency.
Here's a couple of questions for you:
- Does not apathy indicate complacency, acceptance or acquiescence? Or maybe confusion or doubt?
- You vouchsafe that British people are going to suffer for this vote, now more than ever. I know you can argue both sides of any case with equal felicity (
), but will you please give me your strongest scenario for such suffering?
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Apparently there's no longer a responsibility to report spoiled ballots - so we have no idea how many people just didn't vote (through apathy or time constraints) and who turned up to exercise their right to vote and voted against the entire system.Pretty sad times, a wasted election. 2 out of 3 people sat at home and didn't vote. Unsurprisingly the hardcore snorters (blue blazers, biscuit trousers) made their way there.
This isn't a vote that represents anything other than a horrible apathy on the part of the British people. And this time, more than any other, they're going to suffer from it
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The turnout was low, but it was pretty much the same as last time.
It's hard not to be completely disinterested in these elections in the UK, however... the largest political group in the European parliament has no representatives from the UK at all, while the third largest group now has just one UK MEP in it. The overall result this time around doesn't look very different from 2009 either. And for all the headlines of UKIP doing well and the National Front in France, they are still minor players in the European parliament...
The BBC just summed up the night for the Liberal Democrats quite amusingly, by interrupting a live interview (that had just started) with Paddy Ashdown to cut to a live interview with Nigel Farage.
It's hard not to be completely disinterested in these elections in the UK, however... the largest political group in the European parliament has no representatives from the UK at all, while the third largest group now has just one UK MEP in it. The overall result this time around doesn't look very different from 2009 either. And for all the headlines of UKIP doing well and the National Front in France, they are still minor players in the European parliament...
The BBC just summed up the night for the Liberal Democrats quite amusingly, by interrupting a live interview (that had just started) with Paddy Ashdown to cut to a live interview with Nigel Farage.
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I missed that. I wonder what kind of Paddy went on backstage last night? <<< (For those unsure, that doesn't intend the 100-year old racist term but a British term for a child's tantrum)
Clegg The Egg is Off, to use another punny anglicisim.
Clegg The Egg is Off, to use another punny anglicisim.
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Hahahahahaha! 
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Ibonibo
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Hahahahahaha!
We live in free countries. If you don't like it, move away or act. But this moaning without actions are people who are _________.
Germany is one of the countries that profits most from the EU. If they would exclude themselves, they need to pay import&export taxes and would brake their neck.
Germany actually invited the Turks in to work for them. They never integrated them in society and are now getting the consequences of 20 years of shabby immigration politics. Though Germany is less bad then France. A common problem was putting those strangers in cities and building away from the own citizen, thus creating gettos with a own culture (HLM in France).It's not, if it's told, free from what.
From "LGBT cult" and immigrants from Turkey and Africa? Maybe
France again is different as it stems a lot from their old colonies...
Our country had actually invited the Portugese over to come work for us.
....
On the thread. I am shocked that so many people voted extreme right or nationalist parties.
25% for the FN in France worries me. It's 2002 all over again (Chirac vs Lepen Sr.).
It probably boils down to the point that a lot of people didn't vote, but those extreme parties mobilized their entire followship.
I live in one of the few countries where voting is mandatory. While some see it as a brake to democracy, I start to think it actually is good as people need to think about the choice and need to learn a bit about the matters involved as they are required to get a vote down.
If you don't need to vote, are a bit uneducated and aren't seeing the purpose of voting, you won't go and won't learn anything about the subject.
It wouldn't surprise me if some people didn't even know that there was a voting going on or for what it was.
I think it also is an educational problem. How can people think that not voting is a call out for politicians? That non voting will change anything.
But later they can complain that others vote wrong.
I think South Park has a good episode on why in politics we always have to choose between an poo sandwich and an arse cleaner.
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Ibonibo
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Yeah at least the guy went to vote.
But what he writes in his ballot is plain stupid. I think a lot of people don't know what fachist are anymore. Germany is one of the countries that from a parliament point of view never wants to go to war (yes well aware of it being in the top3 weapons exporter).
But again, giving a invalid ballot is registered and makes a point. But you could also vote for a party that never makes it and isn't extremist (pirates or greens,...). There are so many valid possibities that not going to vote isn't a argument to make a stand.
I think France is a good exemple of what can happen if you don't go to vote. Parties that nobody want get elected.
Ibonibo
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^Yeah I get both side of the argument. And it's certainly a valid point. Not giving a vote is a vote.
But then I see what happens in France with a really low voting % and the result simply worries me (and probably some French too).
and then I see people complaining. You ask them if they go vote, they deny. How can you complain if you are never airing your choice.
For me a real democracy would be were we could vote for everything, every law, every national project,... all referendums like in Swiss. I would love that. But with the trend now in motion, I never see that happen.
Now the question, if you could vote through a smartphone or tablet or FB, how many people would vote? I think that's an interesting question.
Because letting aside apathy and being fed up with the politicans, I think a lot is laziness.
As a side note, even though it's mandatory here, if you don't go, you won't be fined, maybe if you never go...
also even though sanctions are not really enforced, having a mandatory vote system, gives also a social importance to go vote. Someone who would say here they won't vote, get look wierdly, because we are used to go vote. Everybody does. It's the normal thing.
But then I see what happens in France with a really low voting % and the result simply worries me (and probably some French too).
and then I see people complaining. You ask them if they go vote, they deny. How can you complain if you are never airing your choice.
For me a real democracy would be were we could vote for everything, every law, every national project,... all referendums like in Swiss. I would love that. But with the trend now in motion, I never see that happen.
Now the question, if you could vote through a smartphone or tablet or FB, how many people would vote? I think that's an interesting question.
Because letting aside apathy and being fed up with the politicans, I think a lot is laziness.
As a side note, even though it's mandatory here, if you don't go, you won't be fined, maybe if you never go...
also even though sanctions are not really enforced, having a mandatory vote system, gives also a social importance to go vote. Someone who would say here they won't vote, get look wierdly, because we are used to go vote. Everybody does. It's the normal thing.
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No, it's not. You need to make your vote invalid to still be in the statistics.
Say 1.000.000 people are allowed to vote, but only 500.000 actually do it and no one makes his vote invalid.
These 500.000 people don't count as 50% but as 100%, which means the actual numbers are skewed.
Most non-voters don't know this and it's a HUGE problem.
Even you don't want to vote any of the available parties, go to the booth and make your vote invalid!
