Referendum

Referendum is “a vote in which all the people in a country or an area are asked to give their opinion about or decide an important political or social question”.

I will not deliberate on whether referendum is the finest approach in a functioning democracy. I am vexed as regards to whether verdict on trade / departure from a union, with an economic impact, should be left to the people. Many people are literate but lack subject literacy. We have to remember, Kennedy said, “The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the Security of all”.

By subject literacy, I mean the ability to understand and analyze the effect arising out of a decision as deep as severance from The European Union.

A report stated that “England’s youth ‘worst at literacy & basic math’ in developed world”. Also, another report mentioned that around 16% (5.2 million adults in England – 2011 figures) are functionally illiterate (literacy level less than 11 year old).

Bearing in mind the economic repercussion of leaving The European Union is less understood by many, rather than accepting first past the post, a cut off percentage of 75% should have been considered. This would have helped in adjusting the people who had inadequate subject literacy.

For further understanding on the demographics of the Brexit referendum please read below articles:

1. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/24/eu-referendum-how-the-results-compare-to-the-uks-educated-old-an/

2. http://blogs.ft.com/ftdata/2016/06/24/brexit-demographic-divide-eu-referendum-results/

Sources:

Definition: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/referendum

Literacy: https://www.rt.com/uk/330633-england-literacy-numeracy-worst/

Functional literacy: http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/adult_literacy/illiterate_adults_in_england

Ignorance: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/democracy.html