The Wholesome Photo of the Month Thu May 09, 2024 11:01 | Anti-Empire
In 3 War Years Russia Will Have Spent $3... Thu May 09, 2024 02:17 | Anti-Empire
UK Sending Missiles to Be Fired Into Rus... Tue May 07, 2024 14:17 | Marko Marjanović
US Gives Weapons to Taiwan for Free, The... Fri May 03, 2024 03:55 | Anti-Empire
Russia Has 17 Percent More Defense Jobs ... Tue Apr 30, 2024 11:56 | Marko Marjanović
Anti-Empire >>
A bird's eye view of the vineyard
Alternative Copy of thesaker.is site is available Thu May 25, 2023 14:38 | Ice-Saker-V6bKu3nz
Alternative site: https://thesaker.si/saker-a... Site was created using the downloads provided Regards Herb
The Saker blog is now frozen Tue Feb 28, 2023 23:55 | The Saker
Dear friends As I have previously announced, we are now “freezing” the blog. We are also making archives of the blog available for free download in various formats (see below).
What do you make of the Russia and China Partnership? Tue Feb 28, 2023 16:26 | The Saker
by Mr. Allen for the Saker blog Over the last few years, we hear leaders from both Russia and China pronouncing that they have formed a relationship where there are
Moveable Feast Cafe 2023/02/27 ? Open Thread Mon Feb 27, 2023 19:00 | cafe-uploader
2023/02/27 19:00:02Welcome to the ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’. The ‘Moveable Feast’ is an open thread where readers can post wide ranging observations, articles, rants, off topic and have animate discussions of
The stage is set for Hybrid World War III Mon Feb 27, 2023 15:50 | The Saker
Pepe Escobar for the Saker blog A powerful feeling rhythms your skin and drums up your soul as you?re immersed in a long walk under persistent snow flurries, pinpointed by
The Saker >>
The Threat to Democracy Wed Jul 24, 2024 11:29 | James Alexander
'Populists' like Donald Trump and Nigel Farage are a "threat to democracy", chant the mainstream media. In fact, they are just reminding our politicians what they are supposed to be doing, says Prof James Alexander.
The post The Threat to Democracy appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
In the Latest Weekly Sceptic, Nick Dixon and Toby Young Talk About Biden?s Withdrawal, Kamala Harris... Wed Jul 24, 2024 09:00 | Toby Young
In the latest Weekly Sceptic, the talking points are whether Biden was the victim of a palace coup, Kamala Harris's staggeringly bad speeches and Kim Cheatle's humiliation.
The post In the Latest Weekly Sceptic, Nick Dixon and Toby Young Talk About Biden?s Withdrawal, Kamala Harris?s Chances and the Kim Cheatle?s Shame appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Wanted: Climate Researcher to Write Extreme Weather Just-So Stories to Serve Up to Credulous Media Wed Jul 24, 2024 07:00 | Chris Morrison
If you wondered where the MSM get all their lurid stories attributing 'extreme weather' to climate change, look no further than a new job ad for a "researcher" focused on creating alarmist propaganda, says Chris Morrison.
The post Wanted: Climate Researcher to Write Extreme Weather Just-So Stories to Serve Up to Credulous Media appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
News Round-Up Wed Jul 24, 2024 01:01 | Richard Eldred
A summary of the most interesting stories in the past 24 hours that challenge the prevailing orthodoxy about the ?climate emergency?, public health ?crises? and the supposed moral defects of Western civilisation.
The post News Round-Up appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Porsche Scraps Electric Car Targets as Demand Slumps Tue Jul 23, 2024 19:43 | Will Jones
Porsche has scrapped its sales targets for EVs amid a slump in demand. A previous goal of 80% by 2030 has been watered down and the company now says sales will depend on uptake and how the technology develops.
The post Porsche Scraps Electric Car Targets as Demand Slumps appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Lockdown Skeptics >>
Voltaire, international edition
Netanyahu soon to appear before the US Congress? It will be decisive for the suc... Thu Jul 04, 2024 04:44 | en
Voltaire, International Newsletter N°93 Fri Jun 28, 2024 14:49 | en
Will Israel succeed in attacking Lebanon and pushing the United States to nuke I... Fri Jun 28, 2024 14:40 | en
Will Netanyahu launch tactical nuclear bombs (sic) against Hezbollah, with US su... Thu Jun 27, 2024 12:09 | en
Will Israel provoke a cataclysm?, by Thierry Meyssan Tue Jun 25, 2024 06:59 | en
Voltaire Network >>
View Comments Titles Only
save preference
Comments (7 of 7)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7In fairness there are advantages to allowing democratically elected representatives to pass laws for the people who elected them. It simply would not be practical to hold a referendum on every single law we passed, and it is up to the people to decide through their constitution which laws are too important to pass by parliament alone. Another advantage is that elected representatives will generally have, or quickly gain, a more in-depth understanding of the operation of the law and national and international institutions. This may sound elitist but the fact of the matter is that not everyone can be expected to understand complex legal documents and treaties, and most people understand this.
Minister Mansergh can say what he likes but he cannot overrule our right to a referendum on issues that affect our sovereignty.
I agree, but the point of this piece is about the EU Constitution/Treaty. Fair enough the people cant choose every law(but atleast the can vote out the bad boys next time around) but they must be allowed choose who represents them. If the Constitution/Treaty is passed as far as i know its self ammending, meaning that those unelected officials sitting in the EU Commission will be able to do what they please. Treatys passed within the EU should be choosin by the people, its simple. The treaty is complex and can be bent depending which side you take, what does that give you? Sure Hitler came to power in many of the same ways. Id like to say more but im off to bed, hope you reply and ill be back to ya...
"WHEN THE POWER OF LOVE, OVERCOMES THE LOVE OF POWER, THE WORLD WILL KNOW PEACE"...
"Another advantage is that elected representatives will generally have, or quickly gain, a more in-depth understanding of the operation of the law and national and international institutions."
Really? Most of them said they had not even read the treaty, and McCreevey said openly that anyone who read it would have to be mad.
Finna fail have some cheek calling for a review of the 'Crotty' and mc kenna judement's because the election did not go the right way for them and there tweedle dom tweedle dee plutocracy, We the Irish should always have a right to vote on our people's future, shame shame and more shame finna fail .
No SO Cozy
"Another advantage is that elected representatives will generally have, ... "
... is that they can benefit in any number of corrupt ways which the people who vote for them know nothing about, so that the "elected representatives" can (in effect) easily end up -- silently and invisibly (or almost so) -- supporting corruption, despotism, lawlessness and so on, all in the name of those who elected them: and sometimes the abuses in question are of the worst possible kinds that humanity is capable of producing and sustaining.
Politicians need to be VERY carefully watched by the electorate at ALL times, and vigorously challenged in public when ANYTHING appears to be amiss.
Seems to me that the one side of the "No" faction are happy with representational democracy when it suits them.
For instance in the UK not one of the "Left" or any socialist Parites want a referendum on Hanging, they are happy to allow a free vote to MPs,but when it comes to the EU they seek to push the decisoin to "the people" one wonders why? Is it as I suspect because that way they get the result they are seeking? We all know why the right side of the EU No campaign want a referendum and call it democracy its because they are nationalists in the worst sense of the term.
Maybe they seek a retreat to the old europe of war and suffering?
Drumcondradave,
Maybe no one told you. We, the people of Ireland, make the choice to change our constitution. Your argument is backwards, I'm no crazy leftist but, why would I give power to a European president, not elected by the people of Europe that can amend the Lisbon treaty? If the Lisbon treaty is so great (1) why did our Government not want to tell us what exactly was in it? (2) Why don't the rest of Europe get a vote on such an important issue? (3) Why would our Government want to change it? and (4) Why is there such threatening language from the rest of the E.U's leaders, but such positive language from the people our Europe? Don't be so naive.