Interesting Links for 6-9-2011

[andrewducker]

• Do Happier People Work Harder? Why yes, yes they do.
  (tags: happiness work productivity management business)
• Become a Good Programmer in Six Really Hard Steps
  (tags: programming development advice)
• Androgen and Estrogen levels tied directly to finger length
  (tags: hormones gender biology)
• A breakdown of the figures in the latest Independence poll
  (tags: scotland independence)
• Yes voters take lead in new independence poll
  (tags: independence scotland)
• They're finally about to finish painting the Forth Road Bridge
  (tags: scotland construction bridge technology)

Comments

[danieldwilliam.livejournal.com]

50% plus 1 vote.

Not sure what happens if the referendum is multiple option. Perhaps we use AV.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Wasn't the last referendum set up that it needed 60% in favour of independence, because it was such a huge revolution for the country, that they felt that a yes vote with 50%+1 was going to be very hard to convince the other half of the country to go along with it.

[andrewducker]

The rule was that 40% of the total electorate had to vote in favour. Which meant that they needed 80% turnout, and as turnout was 62%, it failed, despite 52% of the people who voted being in favour.

[danieldwilliam.livejournal.com]

The devolution referendum in the 70's required 50% plus 1 to vote Yes and for 40% of the electorate to vote Yes also - so a requirement for a high turn out.

I think the official reason was that a big change constitutional required significant backing. I think the real reason had more to do with the Labour Party's concerns about losing UK General Elections.

The devolution referendum in the 90's was a straight 50%+1

We've yet to have a referendum on independence.