The right answer to the wrong question.

[nicky_cky]

Ideally, we would today be having a referendum with a fair question, where it wouldn't MATTER whether the system of voting used was FPTP or AV or something else. This question:

“Do you want electoral reform?”

What we have is the wrong question.

It's like asking: would you like a Snickers bar or a packet of cheese and onion crisps? And

Comments

[darzil]

They were talking to people about AV on our local radio. Everyone who said they didn't understand it said they'd vote against it. How is it possible that people think that not understanding something they've not looked at makes it bad!

Personally I prefer AV to FPTP, for the same reasons you give. I have (postally) voted for it.

The thing that does scare me is that the Tories seem insistent that if it goes ahead they should reintroduce rotten boroughs at the same time!

Personally I just see it as "FPTP - Most popular candidate gets in", "AV - Most popular candidate gets in unless a majority hate them". This is why the Tories are so against it, as they know a majority hate them. It's why they want to tie it to reforming parlimentary seats based on size rather than population - They can then lose all votes in towns and cities and still have an overwhelming majority.

The irony I love is that David Cameron was elected to lead his party by AV, and wouldn't have won under FPTP!

[nicky_cky]

I like your pithy distinction between the systems

[plucky_lass]

I'm beginning to feel that if I did get a vote in this, I'd change my vote to FPTP because they don't seem to think that I'm too dumb to understand things unless its phrased in terms of beer, cats, chocolate or Pop Idol.

[nicky_cky]

So to spite them you'd vote for the people who seem think you're too dumb to understand it at all? Who think that 'under AV the second or third placed candidate (by FPTP) can win' is a convincing argument against AV? To use another metaphor -(I like metaphor, it's how my mind works - and I don't think that makes me dumb, just creative.) - it's like claiming that musical bumps is better than musical statues because in musical statues the person who moves last wins!

[plucky_lass]

I'm not sure how that relates I'm afraid. I feel that AV is currently causing my friends to regularly insult me. I'm not ssure how that's like musical bumbs or like musical statues - its more like being insulted by a lot of my friends. Still, its nearly over.

[nicky_cky]

It relates because I don't think using metaphors to explain something implies the person you are explaining to is dumb - (though I appreciate that people must have used them in such a way that you have inferred this). I use metaphors ALL the time - if I am unable to communicate what I mean without them, it is MY communication at fault, not YOUR understanding

[nicky_cky]

Which would be a fair point, IF there was any point in them voting - ie both something worth voting for and a belief that their vote will make a difference. AV will hopefully begin to redress one of these problems.

If a vegetarian doesn't bother to make a choice between beef, fish and chicken - it isn't because they are too lazy to do it.

I am a housewife and stay at home mum. People fought and even died to give women the right to have a career instead - so am I lazy and ungrateful not to have one?