There is no such thing as a margin of error in a democratic vote, unless you mean votes which were miscounted or uncounted but that is very very unlikely to account for a 4 percentage point difference.
You're right, I misused the term. Statistically, I'm sure the votes were counted accurately and that margin of error is extremely small and would not invalidate that vote.
I was referring to the fact that when a result is so close, the vote might have a different outcome simply based on who shows up to vote that day. If there's a revote, more people against leaving might show up because they didn't realize they would lose. And then if a third vote is held, the result might swing again.
Our country is clearly split right now, but the road ahead for the brexit outcome is terrifying and full of unknowns, as the commentator acutely outlined. Is it worth going through so much turmoil when there is barely an inch above a majority that voted this way?
My answer would be a resounding "yes" if the result was 70%/30%. But 52%/48%? Maybe we should spend some time thinking this through before enacting Article 50. And all the current leaders seem to think this way right now given how discreet they have become as the reality is slowly sinking in.
So, given the apparent shock and the extremely large, irreversible changes that will occur if the referendum result is adhered to, why not hold another referendum, and make it binding this time? More voters have signed the petition for a revote than were the difference in the referendum; clearly this is an indication that the people don't want such a destructive change based in a single, simple-majority vote that many people didn't take seriously enough in the first place.
The referendum was also made non-binding for a reason. It was made that way exactly so that Cameron had the freedom to do something like he has just done, maybe not specifically the way he did it, but leaving the door ajar to avoid such an incredibly damaging result.
I was referring to the fact that when a result is so close, the vote might have a different outcome simply based on who shows up to vote that day. If there's a revote, more people against leaving might show up because they didn't realize they would lose. And then if a third vote is held, the result might swing again.
Our country is clearly split right now, but the road ahead for the brexit outcome is terrifying and full of unknowns, as the commentator acutely outlined. Is it worth going through so much turmoil when there is barely an inch above a majority that voted this way?
My answer would be a resounding "yes" if the result was 70%/30%. But 52%/48%? Maybe we should spend some time thinking this through before enacting Article 50. And all the current leaders seem to think this way right now given how discreet they have become as the reality is slowly sinking in.