A heart of darkness? | 34 comments (34 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: A heart of darkness? (none / 1)

I think (and hope) that the Swiss system of referendas will defeat this. Surely a majority of the voting swiss will vote against it. Right?

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by A swedish kind of death on Fri Sep 7th, 2007 at 09:56:27 AM EST

Re: A heart of darkness? (none / 1)

I hope. Who will this bring to the polls? When they had a big pro- vs anti-EU initative last year, there was a strong pro-EU response. So I believe the majority of Swiss are tolerant and forward looking. But...there are so many votes here each year, I think people get a bit lazy. So turnout will be the thing...will this energize the humanitarians, or energize the racists?? We will soon find out...but will keep you posted on any polls or news I may hear.

"Once in awhile we get shown the light, in the strangest of places, if we look at it right" - Hunter/Garcia

by whataboutbob on Fri Sep 7th, 2007 at 10:20:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A heart of darkness? (4.00 / 2)

Who knows ? the swiss aren't the most elightened or liberal electorate out there, there was one canton that didn't even allow women to vote till 1990. So using "reasonable" arguments to create popular support racist policies is entirely possible.

You might argue that the price of liberalism is eternal vigilance.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Fri Sep 7th, 2007 at 10:41:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A heart of darkness? (none / 1)

Helen, that with the women's vote is not quite correct. In 1971 all Swiss women received the right to vote on a federal level. Only in the canton of Appenzell Innerroden, the right to vote on a cantonal and community level was rejected - but they could vote on the federal level.

One of the reasons it took so long for the Swiss women to get the right to vote was that it needed a constitutional change. Before that the right to vote was connected to doing duty in the military service. Now, of course it could have been able to say women have to do military service to. But then again we would have had again a system that would not have allowed voting to every Swiss citizen. And as constitutional changes have to be voted on by the people, as usual it took a while.

by Fran on Sat Sep 8th, 2007 at 11:31:29 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A heart of darkness? (none / 1)

I hope so too, askod. I don't know how often this topic has come up, couldn't find it with google. But since I came of age (this now being a few decades) and was allowed to vote, this topic as been on many times and everytime up to now, has been rejected.

If against my hopes, it should be accepted this time, this is not the end. This being a direct democracy, people can again start a new initiative to get rid of this law or change it. However, I would prefer for this to be not necessary. And looking at the past votes on this topic I am very hopeful.

by Fran on Sat Sep 8th, 2007 at 11:26:32 AM EST
[ Parent ]

A heart of darkness? | 34 comments (34 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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