Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
barryw,that will never happen and you know it.
and if you say it will bring it on lets have a referendum.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Mark - would you say that to the prisoners in Colditz Castle during the war, no you would not. Currently we are all prisoners of the interfering dictatorial and incompetent spendthrift EU.
Keith- you have previously been told the correct version of that quote so stop misusing it in your warped manner.
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
Ah, Barry! I am beginning to understand. Your concept of Europe is based on a 1970s BBC drama. I suggest that you continue to build your glider in the attic whilst the rest of us move on into the 21st century!!
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
The EU's own Eurobarometer survey, covering 27,000 throughout the EU, showed only 49% support for the EU. In Britain support for the EU was only 27%. Even in Germany only half the population have confidence in the EU.
What price democracy?
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
Peter
as the EU has a population of 495 million that would seem a statistically insignificant poll.
We need honest, open discussion about the future of the EU but politicians are too interested in self-interest and domestic ratings to really deal with the issues. The current state of affairs may ultimately force their hands and we may then start to make headway.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
the original common market was formed to stop future wars in europe by making us all reliant on trade with each other.
this is what it will revert to over time, the u.k. will not be the first, second or third to revolt over the bureaucracy.
just a look at who the commisioners are says it all - a retirement home for politicians rejected by their own electorate and others that could not make the grade in their own country's parliament.
Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
We need to be in and oart of Europe and will be.but please dream on.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
what does that actually mean reg?
politically or economically?
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
both maybe.?
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Mark, regarding your comments about statistical significance: on a population of 495m, a sample of 27,000 gives a 99% confidence level and a confidence interval of plus or minus 0.85%.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
Full Monty.Howard.
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
Peter
by my calculations, 27000 is 0.0058823529411764705% of 459000000 (I am happy to be corrected on this!). Researchers usually consider 10% a good size for a sample.
I would be interested to read the report too but I cannot find it on the eurobarometer website. Could you direct me to it?
Thanks.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Mark you will need to use the Interactive Search tool on the eurobarometer website. You can then configure your own reports.
Re the sample sizes. This website is the best I know at explaining things statistical to the layman:
http://www.surveysystem.com/sscalc.htm
The algorithms behind these methodologies are tried and tested over many decades.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
Thanks Peter.
I am still unable to track down the report but from the surveysystem website it seems that even such a small percentage can be valid! That strikes me as bizarre. I can't imagine you choosing to remove your famous pickled eggs if 0.0058823529411764705% of your customers said they found them not to their liking - obviously a totally fanciful hypothesis!
If I have read it correctly though, the 49% figure implies a level of unreliability and the confidence level of 99% would seem to be very high - 95% seemingly more usual - so there are still questions as to the validity which maybe the report would clarify.
It all highlights the need for clear, rational debate so that claim and counter-claim can be expressed, examined and applauded or rebuffed. As this requires a long-term view to be taken by the politicians I will not hold my breath.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
rational debate on the european issue is a utopian dream.
pro union people simply sneer at antis as out of touch little englanders and antis retort with accusations of treason.
we live in an age of sound bites and photo calls, serious debate is seen as fuddy duddy.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
If you reduce the confidence level and keep the sample the same size, the confidence interval (margin of error) will reduce even more. Confidence levels reduce and margins of error increase the closer you are to a 50-50 vote on a two way question or 33-33-33 on a three way question. So on a really marginal poll the sample size needs to be a little bigger. It's a blend of art and science but quite fascinating.
And if .0058 pct of the EU population bought one of my pickled eggs every day then 1. I could retire and 2. air quality in Dover would suffer somewhat.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson