The AV Debate

[softtop]

Interesting article in today's Indie on this subject, in case anyone's interested:
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinio...ou-get-the-x-factor-youll-get-av-2271058.html

 

[RogerS]

Interesting article in today's Indie on this subject, in case anyone's interested:
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinio...ou-get-the-x-factor-youll-get-av-2271058.html

Mmmm...read it and not impressed by his arguments - it sounded a bit like 'Oh s**t, I've got a column to write and 500 words to fill'.

AV = mediocrity...the winning candidate is the one who has appeased most voters or kiss-assed them.

 

[cambournepete]

AV = mediocrity...the winning candidate is the one who has appeased most voters or kiss-assed them.

Alternatively, AV = the winning candidate is the one who the majority thought worth voting for, rather than the minority.

 

[RogerS]

AV = mediocrity...the winning candidate is the one who has appeased most voters or kiss-assed them.

Alternatively, AV = the winning candidate is the one who the majority thought worth voting for, rather than the minority.

And in order to appeal to the majority - and that's left, right, centre, marxist, etc - they are going to drift this way and that depending on who they happen to be talking to!

 

[cambournepete]

Let's say for the sake of argument I prefer to vote Wombat (or some other minority party that doesn't stand a cat's chance in hell of winning the seat here).

With FPTP, my vote is pointless, they can't win, so I don't bother.
With AV, I can vote Wombat but then say my second-preference is the Duck-Billed Platypus candidate who actually stands a chance of winning. I can vote for my preferred party, but also have a vote that counts, so I do vote.

I think that anything that encourages people to get out and vote is a good thing.

Oh yeah - politicians say different things to difference people now already, so that won't change...

 

[miles_hot]

But Pete, in the situation you described your initial vote is still "pointless" as you know that the real vote which will put someone into power is your second one? Note I don't think that voting for a no hope party is actually a waste as it still gets registered and allows them to claim some movement in their popularity etc

 

[RogerS]

....

I think that anything that encourages people to get out and vote is a good thing.

..

Agreed but all the polls indicate that AV won't affect that in any way.

 

[Shultzy]

Thanks for a great debate, I only hope the British public come out and vote and this referendum is not won by a minority. I loved Ian Hislop's comment last night "its ironic that a referendum on AV is conducted as a "first-past-the-post" "

 

[bugbear]

BugBear

 

[Digit]

As I understand it Rog S is correct. If you want an argument against the system, take a squint at how many general elections have been held in Holland in recent years. E Milliband won his position with the system AFAIK.
To put it bluntly AV is neither your arse nor your elbow, the fairest, most democratic system has to be proportional voting system.

Roy.