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Topic for 11 Sep 2017 Referenda and Citizen Initiatives

Bob asked for our topic for next week and after none of the group that was polled remembered one, I asked Bob for a suggestion. Bob’s Dutch visitor (who will be there, I expect) proposed “pro’s and con’s of ” referenda/citizen initiative” system.” So unless there’s something that people remember and/or want more, that’s the topic.

We have our own experience in Maine, (Wikipedia, Ballotpedia) and we know of referenda in other states and countries gone wrong (or right, according to your political views)  here’s a good overview of the pros and cons.

Switzerland, according to this article, holds about a quarter of the world’s referenda. They vote four times a year.

I won’t be there (still in Boston recovering from knee replacement) but I will be there in spirit, and will I’ll post any links that people send me by email, or you can comment on this post.

Notes 21 August 2017

Article on Venezuela by Juan Manuel Santos, President of Columbia, on his relationship with Chavez and the current government.

BBC Article “What’s behind the turmoil in Venezuela

Al Jazeera article “Venezuela’s crisis, explained from the beginning

New York Magazine “What the hell is happing in Venezuela

Wikipedia article “Shortages in Venezuela” relatively balanced view of what is going on.

Wikipedia article “Constituent assembly

Wikipedia: Change in Agricultural production in Russia. From 1990 to 2005

Indicator Farm type 1990 1995 2000 2005
Agricultural production Corporate farms 74 50 43 41
Household plots 26 48 54 53
Peasant farms 0 2 3 6

40% of food in Russia from Dacha gardens (probably low)

Raw data from Russian State Statistics Service

Agricultural production by types of enterprise
(at constant prices; percent of total)

1992

2000

2005

2010

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

Enterprises of all types

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

including:

agricultural enterprises

67.1

45.2

44.6

44.5

47.9

47.6

49.5

51.5

52.8

household enterprises

31.8

51.6

49.3

48.3

43.2

42.6

40.5

37.4

34.7

peasant (farm) enterprises 1)

1.1

3.2

6.1

7.2

8.9

9.8

10.0

11.1

12.5

Statue of “Traitor” George Washington in Trafalgar Square     Also here.

The Lost Cause of the Confederacy is a set of revisionist beliefs that describes the Confederate cause as a heroic one against great odds despite its defeat. The beliefs endorse the virtues of the antebellum South, viewing the American Civil War as an honorable struggle for the Southern way of life,[1] while minimizing or denying the central role of slavery. While it was not taught in the North, aspects of it did win acceptance there and helped the process of reunifying American whites.

Boston Free Speech permit issued for 100!! people

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes 14 August 2017

North Korean economics

Economy of North Korea: Wikipedia
Economy climbs to 17 year high.

Korea’s developing economy

Chatham House : Political analysis

What does Kim Jong Un really want

Source of Korean Rockets: Ukraine

North Korean Missle program

North Korean and Weapons of Mass Destruction

North Korean Preconditions for talks

How lousy life was in North Korea

The political philosophy of North Korea “Juche”

 

 

 

 

 

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