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"Actually I'd argue that it's more important because the government doesn't support it." A considerable number of Catalans don't support it either. When you h

"Actually I'd argue that it's more important because the government doesn't support it." A considerable number of Catalans don't support it either. When you have an 'unofficial referendum' - likely to be boycotted or ignored by those not support of it - you can possibly arrive at a situation wherein the 'majority of votes cast' opted for independence, but wherein this is not remotely an accurate reflection of the actual populations wishes. In politics, there's no such thing as 'a referendum that has no legal binding' - the results of the referendum, however inaccurate, will be used by political activists the world over as 'claims of legitimacy'. Either there is a clear, unambiguous, clearly worded, properly managed referendum (with some kind of legal status i.e. 'not binidng' or 'binding' or whatever) - or there is nothing. De-facto partisan-managed referendums are not good.

marak830 9y ago
"A considerable number of Catalans don't support it either." So what? Just ignore it then. As for the majority of votes, just tally them vs total population. Simple. But now that it's blocked, they have put it in the spotlight. "Either there is a clear, unambiguous, clearly worded, properly managed referendum (with some kind of legal status i.e. 'not binidng' or 'binding' or whatever) - or there is nothing." Oh bullshit, have you ever seen any political party say anything 100% clearly, that's just raising the bar. If it's a small minority voting, then why should they care? If it's something that may be popular... Well we're seeing where this is going now, arnt we.
- alexasmyths 9y ago
  "So what? Just ignore it then." + If a considerable number of people ignore a referendum it loses it's legitimacy. "As for the majority of votes, just tally them vs total population. Simple." No. Absolutely not. This is not how either elections or referendums are done. "Oh bullshit, have you ever seen any political party say anything 100% clearly, that's just raising the bar." I'm afraid you are dead wrong. The 'wording' of a referendum is a very important and contentious thing - otherwise it loses legitimacy and legal standing. As for 'bullshit' - there is actually a law in Canada, called the 'Clarity Act' that legally requires referendum questions to be clear. This is because separatists want to soften the wording of the question 'i.e. we seek to renegotiate our status' - thereby getting the 10% or so on board who really don't want to separate, but want more power. Those against the referendum want a hard question like: "Do you want to separate from XYZ and loses your passport" etc.. "If it's a small minority voting, then why should they care?" Because the political entities who directed the 'bad referendum' will use it as political capital to flame the flames. Either it's done right - or not at all. Ambiguous referendums are a disaster for everyone.

marak830 9y ago

"A considerable number of Catalans don't support it either." So what? Just ignore it then. As for the majority of votes, just tally them vs total population. Simple. But now that it's blocked, they have put it in the spotlight. "Either there is a clear, unambiguous, clearly worded, properly managed referendum (with some kind of legal status i.e. 'not binidng' or 'binding' or whatever) - or there is nothing." Oh bullshit, have you ever seen any political party say anything 100% clearly, that's just raising the bar. If it's a small minority voting, then why should they care? If it's something that may be popular... Well we're seeing where this is going now, arnt we.

alexasmyths 9y ago
"So what? Just ignore it then." + If a considerable number of people ignore a referendum it loses it's legitimacy. "As for the majority of votes, just tally them vs total population. Simple." No. Absolutely not. This is not how either elections or referendums are done. "Oh bullshit, have you ever seen any political party say anything 100% clearly, that's just raising the bar." I'm afraid you are dead wrong. The 'wording' of a referendum is a very important and contentious thing - otherwise it loses legitimacy and legal standing. As for 'bullshit' - there is actually a law in Canada, called the 'Clarity Act' that legally requires referendum questions to be clear. This is because separatists want to soften the wording of the question 'i.e. we seek to renegotiate our status' - thereby getting the 10% or so on board who really don't want to separate, but want more power. Those against the referendum want a hard question like: "Do you want to separate from XYZ and loses your passport" etc.. "If it's a small minority voting, then why should they care?" Because the political entities who directed the 'bad referendum' will use it as political capital to flame the flames. Either it's done right - or not at all. Ambiguous referendums are a disaster for everyone.