Mec Vannin

[Ant]

It'll be the worlds first proper internet based democratic party. Open to all with a record history of all decisions on these here forums, what an experiment in democracy it could be.

 

Go TMFRPNLPEV!!!

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At the last election, wasn't Joe R, Ramsey, who wanted to install an electronic fully democratic system into the Island? All the people would have an opportunity to vote on everything and anything by way of a home voting system over the internet.

 

He didn't get in of course as it all sounded a little loopy back then. I bet half of us lot didn't even have email at work then. But I think he was in fact way ahead of his time.

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A bit like the Telepathic Partnership in the UK. They didn't do very well at the General Election, their sole candidate in Wokingham achieved 34 votes .

[MasterChief]

a system in the future where everyone votes on almost every issue may not be so far-fetched.

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That's a terrifying thought when you consider the sources that so many people use to obtain their 'information' ie Daily Mail, Sun, Star, Mirror etc.

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Even worse when you consider Churchill's famous statement:

 

"The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter..."

[VinnieK]

a system in the future where everyone votes on almost every issue may not be so far-fetched.

 

It's fairly unlikely though, as there are more reasons why we don't use direct democracy than a mere lack of the technology.

 

I doubt any serious party would suggest implementing it, given that most experiments with a certain amount of direct democracy (California, or various one off referendums around the world) show it to be both expensive, and tends to slow down or confuse the decision making process. A further concern is that it can result in giving demagogues a dangerous amount of influence over legislature (Hitler famously used referendums to his own advantage).

 

Also, it's generally accepted that on a number of important issues, it would be unwise to allow people to decide on the vast majority of legislation and policy. Take the tax system: the implications of any change in taxation are as considerable and far reaching as they are inscrutable to the vast majority of the population.

[Snaipyr]

No grouping but wasn't Phil Gawne a member in the past?  Perhaps there are some MHK's who secretly, in their hearts are members but just haven't come out yet!

 

Don't MV have a problem with taking the oath when being sworn in as an MHK so this is their reason for not standing?

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From http://br.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mec_Vannin

 

“In the 1976 election they put up ten candidates. Only one was successful though, Peter Craine. He remains to this day the only Mec Vannin MHK there has ever been, although several ex-members have gone on to become MHKs, such as Phil Gawne and Hazel Hannan.

Peter Craine subsequently left the party, joining the shortlived breakaway Manx National Party which was formed in 1977 and disbanded in 1981.”

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And not forgetting Alan Bell - there was a good feature in one of the old Manx Life magazines about his MV membership. Think he's changed his views a bit along the way though!

[Snaipyr]

A 'grouping'???!

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Grouping

 

Happy to help

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How patronising. Let me guess - you're English.

 

Now that you've read the replies perhaps you now realise that there's not enough of them to form a 'grouping' - unfortunately.

[ButterflyMaiden]

And not forgetting Alan Bell - there was a good feature in one of the old Manx Life magazines about his MV membership.  Think he's changed his views a bit along the way though!

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That does rather assume membership of Mec Vannin implied or implies a particular set of beliefs. With all due respect to anyone who may think otherwise I am unable to recognise Mec Vannin's policy statements as Socialist. Indeed, if we look at their policy statements in tandem with some of their press statements it is difficult in the extreme to find any consistency of policy at all. A notable exception is their consistent (unexplained) hostility to financial services .. which they propose to control by means of limiting immigration !! (how bizarre)

So what, exactly, were Alan Bell's beliefs during his supposed membership of this quaint organisation ?

[ButterflyMaiden]

A 'grouping'???!

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Grouping

 

Happy to help

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How patronising. Let me guess - you're English.

 

Now that you've read the replies perhaps you now realise that there's not enough of them to form a 'grouping' - unfortunately.

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I replied in the same spirit as your own earlier attempt at sarcasm.

 

Presumably you are a member of the xenophobic society ?

[alriteyessir]

Perhaps Mec Vannins policies are not the best and can be improved upon. However surely some form of party looking to preserve Manx culture is better than this Island becoming a county of England or a province of South Africa.

[ButterflyMaiden]

Perhaps Mec Vannins policies are not the best and can be improved upon. However surely some form of party looking to preserve Manx culture is better than this Island becoming a county of England or a province of South Africa.

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Well said.

It would be even better, given such a party might exist, if it then chose to take advantage of the opportunities offered by a parliamentary democracy and put forward candidates for election.

[alriteyessir]

Absolutely get this butterfly maiden lass a box to stand on, she speaks for the indigenous population

[Lonan3]

Perhaps Mec Vannins policies are not the best and can be improved upon. However surely some form of party looking to preserve Manx culture is better than this Island becoming a county of England or a province of South Africa.

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Perhaps those who are really concerned about it ought to consider joining and trying to change things from the inside.

[VinnieK]

Perhaps Mec Vannins policies are not the best and can be improved upon. However surely some form of party looking to preserve Manx culture is better than this Island becoming a county of England or a province of South Africa.

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What is this Manx culture, apart from the Manx language and a pocket full of national stereotypes?

 

I'm genuinely interested, as growing up on the island I never discerned any culture significantly distinct from that of other regions of Britain, and, quite frankly, all this talk of 'becoming a county of England' is beginning to sound like empty bluster.

[alriteyessir]

ah the romantic empty bluster of Manx Culture just a few minor comments on considerations you may or may not wish to explore

 

Language-The way things are expressed often have no translation in other tongues and thus their is a sense of historical identity emodied in your native communication. In decreasing your mother tongue you lose the link to your fore fathers and thus a place loses a part of its soul and charm.

 

Industry-The Shift from self sufficient agricultural past to heavy dependance upon the tertiary sector courtesy of a govt. who holds out its hand for pieces of silver from which ever sugar daddy organisation wishs to seduce them, has radically altered the working environment and natural environment for its inhabitants

 

Attitude-Shift from 'Tray di laoor' relaxed peaceful sociable attitude to the capitalistic money grabbing economic greed and resulting widening wealth inequality, enjoy the rat race ladies and gents

 

Ah yes the joys of economic growth but let us not forget growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell

 

Its a big topic and I well aware I haven't even begun to scratch the surface.

 

Perhaps those who are really concerned about it ought to consider joining and trying to change things from the inside

 

Tray Di laoor yessir, the revolution will not be televised

[Politician]

In every political jurisdiction, there is a party or organisation that basically plays the same role as the old men in the balcony in the Muppet Show - contributing nothing to what's going on, but heckling everyone else's efforts.

 

From what I've read of their publications, Mec Vannin essentially perform that role on the Isle of Man.

 

A pity, as a more constructive, positive and focused nationalist party could be an interesting proposition.

[Snaipyr]

ah the romantic empty bluster of Manx Culture just a few minor comments on  considerations you may or may not wish to explore

 

Language-The way things are expressed often have no translation in other tongues and thus their is a sense of historical identity emodied in your native communication. In decreasing your mother tongue you lose the link to your fore fathers and thus a place loses a part of its soul and charm.

 

Industry-The Shift from self sufficient agricultural past to heavy dependance upon the tertiary sector courtesy of a govt. who holds out its hand for pieces of silver from which ever sugar daddy organisation wishs to seduce them, has radically altered the working environment and natural environment for its inhabitants

 

Attitude-Shift from 'Tray di laoor' relaxed peaceful sociable attitude to the capitalistic money grabbing economic greed and resulting widening wealth inequality,  enjoy the rat race ladies and gents

 

Ah yes the joys of economic growth but let us not forget growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell

 

Its a big topic and I well aware I haven't even begun to scratch the surface.

 

Perhaps those who are really concerned about it ought to consider joining and trying to change things from the inside

 

Tray Di laoor yessir, the revolution will not be televised

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Agree completely - great post yessir!