This side of the pond, we have ringside seats to the surreal reality show that is American politics. While I’ve grown heartily sick of hearing about the Orange Toddler’s latest tantrums, the rest of my family back in Britain is equally sick of the even-longer-running drama of Brexit.
Some groups are pushing for a second referendum. “Let the people have their say,” they say. Opponents point to the fact that the people already had their say. Here’s where I think we get into slightly shady territory.
I remember reading about the shock when the result of the referendum was announced. There was disbelief across the whole political spectrum, and more than an unearthly hint of “What have we done?” I suspect a lot of people who voted to leave didn’t really want to leave at all. But they did want to send a message to the politicians that business as usual was not an option. It was a protest vote, something that many people felt was safe because there was no way it would actually pass ... until it did.
That’s the danger of protest votes, or of poorly-explained polls.
The time for a second referendum would have been right away, as in - this was so unexpected and has clearly taken everyone by surprise, let’s do the prudent thing and ask, “Are you sure?” That’s the common-sense response when you get an entirely unexpected answer to a question. Verify, to make sure the question was understood and the answer is genuine. Then move on.
But nearly three years have passed, we’ve passed the date when Britain should have by now been out, and we’re still no closer to having any clue how this will all shake out.
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7 comments:
Hi Ian - yes ... it's a mess - but no-one understood what was or was not at stake ... sound bites or newspaper headlines, or the bus promotion - never (and still don't) help/ed.
We are living history; we have to leave somehow; we need new leaders;
I wish we'd never started the whole affair ... but it has been interesting: all the necessary parts of the process, and those necessary decisions we weren't expecting.
The political apparatus will be completely changed - which will be a good thing ... somehow we need to get a compromise and perhaps a National Unity party ... people who can work together and get our country sorted out.
Sounds like we'll get a long delay ... but we shall see - it is interesting (a polite way of looking at it!) ...
Cheers and we'll be putting up with it for a while or more ... take care - Hilary
The word I should probably have used is 'ramifications' and lots of them ... all along every inch of the way: before, during and now as the end decision is approaching ...
It's a mess.
Might have also been non-votes. Everyone was shocked Hilary didn't win, and yet - did you all go out and actually vote? No? Well, surprise.
Hilary, there's been a distinct lack of leadership all along, sadly. Theresa May is talking about collaborating with Labour, but that should have been the first thing they did with something so important, not a last resort.
Alex, non-votes probably didn't help in either case. That's the trouble when people think the outcome is clear so there's no need for them to bother!
Votes do seem to shock people recently.
Well, I don't think the then PM David Cameron had any idea that the referendum would go against the government. He hardly campaigned, unlike the Brexit people. Now don't they have a mess, but Cameron sneakily disappeared, no doubt to a highly-paid position. I've always thought another referendum was called for, but no one's asking me...
Tonja, there have been some bizarre outcomes recently.
Denise, the whole referendum was a shambles, and I think precisely because nobody really believed it would go that way.
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