Comments on: Less than 30% turnout in today's Catalan independence 'consultations' http://www.thebadrash.com/2009/12/13/less-than-30-turnout-in-todays-catalan-independence-consultations/ A blog from Barcelona, Catalonia, covering politics, culture, society and more Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:18:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Chrishttp://www.thebadrash.com/2009/12/13/less-than-30-turnout-in-todays-catalan-independence-consultations/#comment-72840 Chris Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:40:04 +0000 http://www.thebadrash.com/?p=1492#comment-72840 There's several surveys that show that the generation of children that did Catalan-immersion are more radical about independence than older people. I like Catalunya. Dealing with the Catalan-stuff is just the tax I pay to live in such a nice city. I liked Quebec as well, Montreal is a great city. The language politics sucked as well, the politicians were crooked like nobody's business but hey, nothings perfect. I like the US approach better. My ex-neighbor back in the US sends her daughter to a Spanish immersion public school. The US doesn't even have an official language by law, it just happens to be English by convention. There's several surveys that show that the generation of children that did Catalan-immersion are more radical about independence than older people.

I like Catalunya. Dealing with the Catalan-stuff is just the tax I pay to live in such a nice city. I liked Quebec as well, Montreal is a great city. The language politics sucked as well, the politicians were crooked like nobody's business but hey, nothings perfect.

I like the US approach better. My ex-neighbor back in the US sends her daughter to a Spanish immersion public school. The US doesn't even have an official language by law, it just happens to be English by convention.

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]]> By: Tonihttp://www.thebadrash.com/2009/12/13/less-than-30-turnout-in-todays-catalan-independence-consultations/#comment-72796 Toni Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:15:20 +0000 http://www.thebadrash.com/?p=1492#comment-72796 Chris: do you think that the English-only education in England or the Spanish-only education are making people more radical? What's radical about studying in your language in your own country? I guess this comes from your inability to settle and integrate here...If you feel so exhausted of this kind of "stuff" pack your suitcase and go rest elsewhere! Chris: do you think that the English-only education in England or the Spanish-only education are making people more radical? What's radical about studying in your language in your own country? I guess this comes from your inability to settle and integrate here…If you feel so exhausted of this kind of "stuff" pack your suitcase and go rest elsewhere!

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]]> By: Chrishttp://www.thebadrash.com/2009/12/13/less-than-30-turnout-in-todays-catalan-independence-consultations/#comment-72793 Chris Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:07:29 +0000 http://www.thebadrash.com/?p=1492#comment-72793 Getting 25% turnout in Laporta’s capital city of Sant Cugat was pretty pathetic. I think it's obvious to everyone that there isn't > 50% support for full independence. The question was vague enough to leave enough wiggle room for everyone’s pet independence theory (part of a federation of Spain, fully sovereign, British Commonwealth-style). The Catalan-only education is making the next generation more radical, so it’s likely that this kind of stuff will continue into the foreseeable future. Having had to live through the endless referendum politics of Quebec in the 90s, this stuff just makes me feel exhausted. Getting 25% turnout in Laporta’s capital city of Sant Cugat was pretty pathetic. I think it's obvious to everyone that there isn't > 50% support for full independence. The question was vague enough to leave enough wiggle room for everyone’s pet independence theory (part of a federation of Spain, fully sovereign, British Commonwealth-style).

The Catalan-only education is making the next generation more radical, so it’s likely that this kind of stuff will continue into the foreseeable future. Having had to live through the endless referendum politics of Quebec in the 90s, this stuff just makes me feel exhausted.

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]]> By: Graemehttp://www.thebadrash.com/2009/12/13/less-than-30-turnout-in-todays-catalan-independence-consultations/#comment-72750 Graeme Tue, 15 Dec 2009 07:22:50 +0000 http://www.thebadrash.com/?p=1492#comment-72750 Looking at a couple of the places close to Barcelona it's possible to imagine that a vote could be won there too - but with a much lower turnout than that registered in more nationalist areas. Looking at a couple of the places close to Barcelona it's possible to imagine that a vote could be won there too – but with a much lower turnout than that registered in more nationalist areas.

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]]> By: Nickhttp://www.thebadrash.com/2009/12/13/less-than-30-turnout-in-todays-catalan-independence-consultations/#comment-72628 Nick Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:53:14 +0000 http://www.thebadrash.com/?p=1492#comment-72628 I agree with that analysis. It's a shame that Barcelona and it's suburbs plus Tarragona weren't able to take part. I agree with Toni that 30% turnout isn't bad for an unofficial referendum when you look at how few people turn-out for official ones. Look forward to hearing the results of this. I agree with that analysis. It's a shame that Barcelona and it's suburbs plus Tarragona weren't able to take part. I agree with Toni that 30% turnout isn't bad for an unofficial referendum when you look at how few people turn-out for official ones. Look forward to hearing the results of this.

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]]> By: Tonihttp://www.thebadrash.com/2009/12/13/less-than-30-turnout-in-todays-catalan-independence-consultations/#comment-72619 Toni Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:24:01 +0000 http://www.thebadrash.com/?p=1492#comment-72619 Oh well, if the latest European Elections registered a turnout of 37.5% in Catalonia ( http://www.3cat24.cat/especials/Eleccions/europees2009/catalunya.htm ), with all the official and media support of the EU, the Spanish government and the Generalitat and the mass media, then a turnout of nearly 30% in this consultation is a huge proess given that everything was against it! What it matters most is that people are given the right to speak up. Spain denies this right, as it bans the use of Catalan in the Spanish Congress and other institutions. It's a fundamentally democratic right, don't you think? You dont have to be in favour of independence to be in favour of a referendum taking place in Catalonia on the subject in the not too distant future! Oh well, if the latest European Elections registered a turnout of 37.5% in Catalonia ( http://www.3cat24.cat/especials/Eleccions/europees2009/catalunya.htm ), with all the official and media support of the EU, the Spanish government and the Generalitat and the mass media, then a turnout of nearly 30% in this consultation is a huge proess given that everything was against it! What it matters most is that people are given the right to speak up. Spain denies this right, as it bans the use of Catalan in the Spanish Congress and other institutions. It's a fundamentally democratic right, don't you think? You dont have to be in favour of independence to be in favour of a referendum taking place in Catalonia on the subject in the not too distant future!

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]]> By: "el Primo"http://www.thebadrash.com/2009/12/13/less-than-30-turnout-in-todays-catalan-independence-consultations/#comment-72608 "el Primo" Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:20:21 +0000 http://www.thebadrash.com/?p=1492#comment-72608 I agree with your analysis. With these results all we know is that probably *at least* this many people would vote for independence in a real referendum. In my opinion, we are still short of support for a general victory though. I agree with your analysis. With these results all we know is that probably *at least* this many people would vote for independence in a real referendum. In my opinion, we are still short of support for a general victory though.

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]]> By: Marc Torreshttp://www.thebadrash.com/2009/12/13/less-than-30-turnout-in-todays-catalan-independence-consultations/#comment-72602 Marc Torres Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:35:22 +0000 http://www.thebadrash.com/?p=1492#comment-72602 The referendums were successfull because the medias don't inform abouth the consultations the previous days and the iniciative was a popular movement, without money. Moreover, the result was not legal. An official referendum with economy sources would be amazing. The referendums were successfull because the medias don't inform abouth the consultations the previous days and the iniciative was a popular movement, without money. Moreover, the result was not legal. An official referendum with economy sources would be amazing.

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