observer Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 Seems there will be a referendum on changing the voting system next May - between sticking with the present first past the post system OR the proposed Alternative Vote system. Believe Eddy Izzard is fronting the campaign for change - which basically comes down to the Tories V LibDems, with Labour split both ways. With the LibDems now a dead man walking, this will be their last chance to continue to exist as a National Party. SO, will you be voting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 I always vote but a bit stuck for possibilities now as each of the parties have lost any credibility in my eyes and I have no confidence whatsoever in any of them. ......but I'm sure they will only change the voting system if it will work 'in their favour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 I will be voting to leave it as it is, if it leads to the total destruction of the Lib/Dem Party then that will be a bonus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 Good thinking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted December 18, 2010 Report Share Posted December 18, 2010 I will be voting for change, It would be nice to have a party in power that actually deserve to be their on the will of the people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted December 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2010 The AV system couldn't have been designed better, for allowing the third Party LibDems in. No Tory will vote Labour, and niether will Labour voters vote Tory; SO, their second preference votes would go to the LibDems in the main. So, it's a least worst option for voters and a vote against something than for something. Not truly proportional or really representative. But if it does get through, it'll save the LibDems from being wiped out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted December 18, 2010 Report Share Posted December 18, 2010 For me it's not about saving the Lib Dems its about having a party in Government, that the majority of people voted for, for me that is Democracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted December 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2010 No it's not - it's having a Party in Government that was most folks second preference rather than their first preference; and would guarantee hung parliaments giving undue influence to a third Party ever after. There are two reasons for electing folk: 1) to elect a direct representative for a constituency. 2) to elect a Party with a sufficient majority to form a Government. Niether can be satisfactorily achieved through our current system; and to do it imo, requires a seperation of the two requirements; by having the Executive (the Gov) in the form of a 100 seat Senate, elected on a direct correlation of the number of votes cast for ALL Parties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted December 18, 2010 Report Share Posted December 18, 2010 Obs Most people first preference does not get in now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted December 18, 2010 Report Share Posted December 18, 2010 Oh 'dear' (doe's ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted December 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2010 Correct Kije, which adds to my arguement that we need a system that seperates the Executive from the House of Representatives (legislature) - seperation of powers provided by checks and balances. In theory, you could actually do without "Party" candidates as MPs, as their point and purpose would be to represent the interests of their Constituency, NOT their Party. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted December 18, 2010 Report Share Posted December 18, 2010 I want to end up with a government that most people vote for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algy Posted December 19, 2010 Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 At what point do we cease to be a democracy when we don't have a democratic party to vote for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted December 19, 2010 Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 When did we last have a government in the UK that the majority of people voted for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfie Posted December 19, 2010 Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 1931 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted December 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 The problem is Kije, in a world of professional specialisation, we have consigned the function of decision making to a political class, cos, other than a cross on a ballot form, we havn't got the time or interest to get involved. This allows the participants in the increasingly rarefied atmosphere of "Party politics", to pursue minority agendas or just simply ride the gravy train - thus increasing the disconnect between those who "know what's best for us" and majority opinion. There is a debate to be had on creating a more meaningfull and representative democracy, with such ideas as increasing referenda on issues (like the Swiss); a democratic centralist system; time limits on political office etc etc. BUT, in order to move down that road, requires the support of the very people who currently monopolies political power - and turkeys just don't vote for Xmas. EG: How long have they been talking about reforming the House of Lords into an elected Chamber? It's currently a nominated set of geriatrics and time servers, nominated on the basis of the political patronage and interests of the main Parties - and "call me Dave" has just pumped it up to around 8oo seats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted December 19, 2010 Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 Nothing to disagree with their Obs, The change proposed to the voting system here is along way from being perfect but it is an improvement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted December 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 An improvement on an anacronistic system - we're now in the 21st century, where the internet could allow a range of possibilities for public engagement and inclusion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted December 19, 2010 Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 If that happened Obs we would be reading who you voted for though Wiki Leaks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted December 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 and I'm bovvered! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted December 21, 2010 Report Share Posted December 21, 2010 So you are for Wiki Leaks then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted December 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2010 Beleive "the leak" was due to a burst condom?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted December 22, 2010 Report Share Posted December 22, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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