tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post5848349403603870370..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: The Unembarrassable LibDem Peers Embarrass Nick CleggIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-84800601202645171362008-05-22T16:34:00.000+01:002008-05-22T16:34:00.000+01:00Clegg 'had to' refuse to back a referendum because...Clegg 'had to' refuse to back a referendum because Shirley Williams threatened to rejoin Labour. Spineless or what? Most Liberal peers pro-Europe anyway.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-22885253660308665122008-05-22T12:08:00.000+01:002008-05-22T12:08:00.000+01:00What do you think about direct democracy in genera...What do you think about direct democracy in general? My view is that democracy exists to deliver the policies wanted by the majority. That objective would be achieved more successfully if we could have referenda on individual issues, rather than just voting for a party.<BR/><BR/>I can see that there might be difficult cases, like proposals which force the government to spend money, but don't say which tax should go up. However, these problems can be solved; for example, there might be a rule that any referendum question must be revenue neutral. If you want to propose that the government spends money on something, you must also propose a tax increase, and vice-versa.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12670588992431112728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-47168497020547526182008-05-22T00:43:00.000+01:002008-05-22T00:43:00.000+01:00If you are going to cover this can you also cover ...If you are going to cover this can you also cover his article in the Independent on Tuesday "Democracy what a great idea" to which reader comment was not available. As much as the early paragraphs highlight a deficiency in what James Arbutnot should be doing*, the rest of the article flew in the face of his actions over the Treaty of Nice. That he wishes to sweep his compicity in contempt for the electorate under the carpet is telling. <BR/><BR/>James Arbutnot, head of the Defense Select Committee aquired the newly formed North East Hants constituency in 97, Guerkas based in Fleet, within that constituency -prior to 97 are the ones being expatriated.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-36094834976863638672008-05-21T21:52:00.000+01:002008-05-21T21:52:00.000+01:00"Laughable fiasco" is almost as good as "bogus sha..."Laughable fiasco" is almost as good as "bogus sham".<BR/><BR/>You Tories really have a way with the language.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com