Tag Archives: Direct Democracy

The Troubled Greek Bailout Process Lurches Forward

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“On July 13, Athens reached a deal with its creditors to begin negotiations for a third bailout for the country, only a few days after Greeks voted against austerity in a referendum. Then, early on July 16, the Greek Parliament approved a list of painful reforms, including spending cuts on pensions and higher taxes. The vote was extremely controversial, both inside Parliament and out. Though the austerity measures were approved, 32 lawmakers from the ruling Coalition of the Radical Left party, known commonly as Syriza, voted against the reforms, whole another six party members abstained.  Outside Parliament, Athens saw its most violent protests of the year.”

https://www.stratfor.com/analysis/troubled-greek-bailout-process-lurches-forward

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The End Game, or Just a Pause?

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“In true dramatic fashion, the Greek government submitted an 11th-hour proposal late yesterday that meets most creditor demands, in exchange for a new 53.5 billion euro bailout … Greece’s third since 2011.  In fact, details of the proposal, including spending cuts, pension reform and tax hikes, are nearly identical to the offer made by European creditors way back on June 26, which was summarily rejected by the Greek government, and then by voters in a July 5 referendum.  Hmm … the more things change, the more they stay the same.”

http://www.moneyandmarkets.com/end-game-just-pause-72130

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260,000 Austrians sign EU exit petition, forcing referendum debate

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“Over 260,000 Austrians have signed a petition calling for the EU exit for the country, and now the Austrian parliament must discuss a referendum on the issue.  Overall, the 261,159 people who signed the petition represent 4.12 percent of the electorate.  The petition was most popular in the regions of Lower Austria (where 5.18 percent of potential voters signed it) and in Carinthia (4.85 percent).  The threshold for calling a debate on a potential referendum is 100,000 people. The petition was launched by 66-year-old retired translator Inge Rauscher, who composed a similar petition in 2000. On that occasion, it was signed by 3.35 percent of the electorate.”

http://rt.com/news/271279-austria-petition-eu-exit/

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Italy’s Beppe Grillo Pushes For Euro Referendum

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“Italy, which is just emerging from its longest recession since World War II, has a large component of anti-establishment and anti-euro parties and movements. Italian parties supporting the ‘no’ vote in Greece would beat the ‘yes’ front by 11 percentage points, according to Bloomberg calculations based on party leader indications and June 29 election polls by Istituto Piepoli SpA. In addition to Grillo’s party, which is the second biggest in Italy after Premier Matteo Renzi’s Democratic Party, the anti-immigration Northern League Party led by Matteo Salvini also supports a ‘no’ vote in Greece.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-03/italy-s-grillo-flies-greek-flag-to-push-for-referendum-at-home

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Greeks awake to shuttered banks on day after voters reject austerity

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“Greeks awoke Monday to the stark reality of the country’s accelerating crisis — shuttered banks and ATMs with little cash — hours after they voted resoundingly to reject more austerity measures in exchange for another bailout.  The results — 61% voted ‘no,’ compared with 39% for ‘yes’ — left the bankrupt country’s future in the European Union and its euro currency uncertain. Greece entered a second week of severe restrictions on financial transactions and faced the prospect of even limited amounts of cash drying out, with no prospect of an immediate infusion. Greece imposed the restrictions to stem a bank run after the vote was called and its bailout program expired.”

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/07/06/greece-enters-uncharted-territory-after-referendum-no-vote/

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Bank Of England Outs Itself Lying About EU Referendum

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“The Bank blew its cover on Friday when it accidentally emailed details of the project – including how the bank intended to fend off any inquiries about its work – direct to the Guardian. According to the confidential email, the press and most staff in Threadneedle Street must be kept in the dark about the work underway, which has been dubbed Project Bookend. It spells out that if anyone asks about the project, the taskforce must say the investigation has nothing to do with the referendum, saying only that staff are involved in examining ‘a broad range of European economic issues’ that concern the Bank.”

http://www.thedailybell.com/news-analysis/36313/Central-Bank-Caught-Lying/

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Texas, Oklahoma Outlaw Voter-Approved Local Fracking Bans

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“Despite mounting scientific evidence that fracking is increasing seismic activity in the state, Oklahoma legislators are poised to pass legislation preventing municipalities from passing local bans on drilling operations.  Senate Bill 468 would overturn an 80-year-old statute and explicitly prohibits local regulation of certain oil and gas activities—even if such regulation is approved by Oklahoma voters.  Following the lead of Texas lawmakers, who on Monday passed a law forbidding towns or cities from enacting local restrictions on any gas or oil drilling operations, both the Oklahoma House and Senate passed SB 468 with strong majority support.”

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/05/20/step-texas-oklahoma-poised-outlaw-local-drilling-bans

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Michigan tax hike suffers worst ballot smackdown in decades

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“Proposal 1 suffered the worst defeat Tuesday of any Michigan constitutional amendment ballot measure since the current constitution was adopted more than a half-century ago, as 80.1 percent of voters rejected the sales tax increase and road funding plan.  This year’s thumping occurred even though the measure was backed by Gov. Rick Snyder as well as the Republican and Democratic legislative leaders from last year’s Michigan House and Senate. The Safe Roads Yes campaign ended up amassing about $9.5 million, 27 times as much money as the roughly $350,000 the three opposition campaigns had combined.”

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2015/05/06/prop-suffers-worst-ballot-measure-defeat-years/70877352/

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Kansas AG Seeks Invalidation Of Voter-Approved Marijuana Ordinance

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“State Attorney General Derek Schmidt filed a lawsuit with the state Supreme Court Friday seeking to halt the city of Wichita from enacting a voter-approved initiative lessening marijuana possession penalties.  Fifty-four percent of Wichita voters approved the measure last Tuesday. The municipal ordinance reduces penalties for first-time marijuana possession offenses (up to one ounce) to a civil infraction punishable by a $50.00 fine. It also prohibits the Wichita Police Department and the judges of the Wichita Municipal Court from reporting convictions under the new ordinance to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. State law punishes marijuana possession by up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine.”

http://norml.org/news/2015/04/16/kansas-ag-asks-supreme-court-to-invalidate-voter-approved-marijuana-ordinance

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Swiss Gold Referendum: What It Really Means

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“In a few days the Swiss people will go to the polls to decide whether the Swiss central bank is to be required to hold 20% of its reserves in the form of gold. Polls show that the gold requirement is favored by the less well off and opposed by wealthy Swiss invested in stocks.  These poll results provide new insight into the real reason for Quantitative Easing by the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank.  The view in Switzerland is that a gold backed Swiss franc would be more valuable, and a more valuable franc would increase the purchasing power of wage earners, thus reducing their living costs.  The vote is clearly a vote about income shares between the rich and the poor.”

http://www.thedailybell.com/editorials/35855/Paul-Craig-Roberts-Swiss-Gold-Referendum-What-It-Really-Means/

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