Re: To AV, or not to AV?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob
(Post 35229303)
If anyone thinks that changing the voting system would prevent politicians having their snout in the trough, they will be mistaken.
The key thing with this, which is what I have failed to see discussed in any meaningful way from any camp in the av discussion is whether politicians would be more accountable to their electorate, rather than their party policy and would thus vote and promote their local electorate's concerns rather than party issues. Will av end up with a risk of hung parliaments or favour a particular party to a greater degree than the current system. How likely is it that a minority, perhaps the third running candidate on first preference votes gets in because of the countback system.
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The theory goes that because any politician has to win 50 % of the vote in their area to get in, they are less likely to favour small groups of voters that they think can help them win.
Under the current system, it is theoretically possible for a politician to stay in because he or she has a small but dedicated group of followers that are just enough to tip the balance in their favour..
There is also the perception that if you live in an area that supports a party particularly strongly, and you vote against that party, your vote is essentially wasted. I know that, as I am Liberal and live in an area that (apart from a few months in 1998 when it was hung) has had a strongly tory council since the 60s. This leads to people becoming disillusioned with the system.
I don't know for sure if AV will be better, but I do know one thing. If we are not to be gradually overtaken by the far right parties (who do seem to have a dedicated following more so than the mainstream or left wing parties), we need to get more people voting. One way I think that might happen is if they feel their vote will achieve something.
As such, something needs to change. Now. |
