Should Crimea referendum be viewed as the will of the people, or a forced charade under threat?

[Skip Intro]

Should it be viewed as legitimate, or theater?

5 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	The vote will clearly reflect the will of the people.
	2 (40%)
	It might be tainted to a degree, but still should be respected.
	1 (20%)
	Further regional and world input is needed before any such referendum.
	0 (0%)
	It is a show the people are forced into at the point of a gun.
	2 (40%)
	Other.
	0 (0%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
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[The Magistrate]

1. 'Nothing Should Be Done At This Point Without Regional And World Input' Is My View, Sir

I expect Russia will come out of this with the Crimea, mind, though the only right they have to it is might --- but that will probably suffice.

[Skip Intro]

3. I tweaked that response to stay on the topic of the referendum.

I believe it carries the same meaning as before, but wanted to let you know.

I agree that Russia will come out of this with Crimea, and I'm under the impression that would be fine with most in Crimea.

[The Magistrate]

8. Thank You, Sir, And I Stand By My Vote Here Still In The Altered Form

I agree that a goodly portion of Crimea's residents would not much object to being part of Russia, though I suspect there would have been no push for this, even after the collapse of the previous government in Kiev, without a good deal of whipping up by Mr. Putin's apparatus.

[Gravitycollapse]

2. Without international, neutral observers, the vote is worthless.

Not that such a truth makes it our business.

[SunSeeker]

4. The ballot in Crimea does not even offer the "no" option.

As Andrea Mitchell explained on Rachel tonight, the only two options on the ballot are (1) secede/join with Russia or (2) go back to the 1991 constitution, which is just a slower road to joining with Russia. There is no "none of the above"/"do nothing" option on the Crimean ballot.

[functioning_cog]

5. This vote in 3 days is a mockery

The region is being heavily propagandized by Russia. Russian military are harrassing people, setting up military checkpoints, and rushing a vote.

[Comrade Grumpy]

6. Yes.

[Jenoch]

7. It is absolute bullshit.

[moondust]

9. Without independent observers?

Or unfettered, independent news coverage?

Let's see...who was it that said: "The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything."

Hmmm... Some guy in the Kremlin I guess.

How much has Ukraine invested in Crimea over the years? Does Ukraine supply utilities, etc., to the peninsula? Will Ukraine receive a buyout from Russia for their properties and investments?

Should Chechnya be allowed to have a similar referendum? How about the separatists that threatened the Olympics? Moldova? Taiwan? Tibet? Southern/red states in the U.S.?

[bluedigger]

10. History will decide that. n/t