How will you vote in the Marriage Equality referendum? Mod Note Post 1

marienbad wrote: »

I wouldn't be so quick with that assumption if I were you . Lots of yes supporters are living in an internet/college bubble .

Exactly!

Every time I read a post like that saying stuff like "still no valid argument from the no side", I ask (to nobody in particular) -

"Do they actually need one?"

The answer of course, is that they don't! They can spout as much lies and spin as they want, and they don't need to back it up. They don't even have to come up with any justification for voting no. They can simply sit back and do nothing if they want, and on the day of the referendum, toddle up to the voting booth, tick no, and carry on about their business. The Constitution remains the same as far as they're concerned.

The onus is on yes campaigners to come up with valid and convincing arguments among themselves, to convince people to make the effort to get to the voting booth and vote yes. That's actually a much harder job, but it's the job we should be concentrating on, rather than "any more arguments from the no side lads? No? We have this one in the bag so!"

That's the sort of complacency the yes campaign could really, really do without. All the social media coverage and the surveys and all the rest of it are irrelevant, completely meaningless. This referendum isn't going to pass without people putting themselves out there and talking to people face to face, rather than expecting people should, or even will, bother coming to talk to them.

cloud493 wrote: »

I have to imagine complacency so to speak, will come from people not turning up to vote. Its all very well to go on and on about why yes is important and equality, its more important to show and bloody vote.

I have an awful feeling that people even on the day who support marriage equality will look out their windows at the rain pissing down and think "Ahh feck that, I'm not going out in that!" I know it may only seem like such a petty reason not to bother voting but it's not as though it hasn't been known to happen on previous referendum days!

StewartGriffin wrote: »

So which would you rather, a low turnout and a Yes win, or a high turnout and a No win?

It's hardly a question of "either/or" though, is it?

I would hope for a 100% turnout of the electorate, and for this referendum to pass 100%. I can aim for that. There's no point in saying "well that won't happen" if I don't at least try to make it happen.

rarnes1 wrote: »

Still haven't heard a decent argument for voting No, or a person doing so. Surely someone is! Older generation I assume

Saw a piece on the news a while back where they were asking people as they came out of mass.
Most of the people willing to answer on camera were older ladies.

I've seen a few people say it in comments sections online but when pressed for a reason it will either be about children deserving a mother and father or
a conspiracy theory that there's more to the question than we think.

Other than that the only people declaring they'll vote no are those associated with Iona Institute, Mothers and Fathers Matter and the new First Families First.

The yes side certainly seems to have more public backing / declarations of support. At least they are focused on the question we'll actually be asked on the ballot paper.

There definitely will be some people who say they're voting yes that actually vote no and vice versa.

Probably a few eejits that spoil their vote too

Hellrazer wrote: »

I'll be voting yes but I'm still amazed at the ratio of almost 4 to 1 in favour.Call it gut feeling or something but I actually think this is going to be a lot closer than the runaway victory expected.

In the last week I've seen very little yes posters around the area I work but loads of no posters up on poles..is there a danger that the yes side are becoming complacent and becoming lazy due to the expected victory?!

Oh I absolutely believe the polls are rubbish and this will be very tight.

Deleted User wrote: »

no.... havent the time or inclination to be bashed about here on Boards for having an opinion in a democratic society. Listen to it yourself.

I think your posting style is fascinating. You don't seem willing to listen to or engage with any opposing views and then claim victimhood when your views are discussed.

arayess wrote: »

this attitude , and in fairness you are not alone in saying this, intrigues me.
given a very small minority of states allow same sex marriage how does this really send a poor message out?

You might argue that it shows ireland as a non progressive place but is really gay rights the fulcrum of this matter?
In response to your reply - south africa has been very liberal on the point of gay marriage and gay rights yet cannot be held up as a progressive state.
It may be a tick on a list of progressive liberal things but it's hardly the be all and end all.
This crap from Enda Kenny about a Yes vote and foreign business investment is horse**** - businesses follow the profit.
Those same American business are investing in China , Russia and the middle east regardless of human rights issues.

Well I'll be honest I think Enda Kenny is boasting this a bit much to the extreme. Governments tend to do that recall the Lisbon posters . Vote yes for jobs - lol.

But he does have a point, it's becoming a selling/image point for companies and an image item that is becoming more important. Take as an example the US state of Indianan the governor wanted to put in place a protection act for religion however the way it was worded meant when it was signed into power shops could outright refuse service to gay people (How do you know for sure someone’s gay when they enter your shop anyway - lol) and gay rights such as protection under the employment laws no longer applied meaning you could be fired for being gay. Know he is fixing this law as we speak as US corporate backlash hit his pocket.

Companies to name a few : Apple, GE, Walmart spoke out openly against he situation and Saleforce.com went as far as stopping any further investment in the state. That's a pretty damning financial hit for the governor and the state.

arayess wrote: »

given a very small minority of states allow same sex marriage how does this really send a poor message out?

I would not call it a small amount of states and same sex marriage is being allowed more and more thankfully, but were the first to vote in a referendum.
To name a few: Argentina. Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Luxembourg, (Mexico limited), Netherlands, New Zealand ,Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, England and Wales, Scotland, United States: (21 states last time i checked) Slovenia (4th March 2015) & Finland (20 February 2015) were more recent to sign in same sex marriage into the law.

But to be honest all of this does not really matter, the posters all over town on the lamppost and the politicians on both sides are just noise and a distraction from the subject at the end of day.
This is really just about a group of our society, a group of people (Our fellow countrymen and women, siblings, our children to come, and our friends) wanting the same legal definition of marriage. They don’t wish to change marriage, or take away from it, they just want to have the right of choice and freedom to marry (civil marriage) the people they love and hold dear.

Can't see the harm in that, and I would like to think my kids when they grow up will have the same chances for happiness and marriage (if they are gay) then anyone else.

This thread moves fast! Just checking in. Any rational reason to vote no yet?