Too many Yes Groups?

August 1, 2009

: Image by infomatique via Flickr

Roberts post on IrishElection on Yes Groups for the Lisbon Treaty Referendum has given me some food for thought. Is there too many?

The groups that I know of are:

And thats not counting the Political Parties in favour of the Treaty, Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labour and the Green Party! That is nearly 9 groups. There are probably more!

On the no side we have as Robert points out “Coir, Sinn Fein, Socialist Party, Socialist Workers Party and the other lefty fringe groups”. Does this mean that because of the broadcasting act the Yes side could be left without a coherent voice? Each group having only a small amount of time While the No side is able to pick from a small group of people. That is a possibility.

But why is there so many Yes Groups? Robert has one theory

Politicians are not popular right now, so it seems the Yes side’s tactic will be to keep them locked away in their offices

That is one reason yes, but I would add to it. What is your reaction when a politician starts talking about Europe? I switch off, and I am EU-phile. Why? Because they are boring, they try to show off how much they know and basically bore people. The talk about “we europeans” and use cliches like “at the heart of Europe” which means nothing to most people.

Hopefully these groups will be better at talking ordinary language and not high faluting stuff that confuse and bore people. If they don’t, the Yes Vote could be in danger.