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**Chris** · 06-05-2011, 11:46

You're reminding me of your *opinion* chrys, but there's no need, I understand where you're coming from. Your *opinion* is that safe seats are undemocratic. I disagree. A majority is a majority. A settled majority is a settled majority. If you don't like it, then get out on the stumps and campaign to change the views and voting habits of your neighbours. Anything else is just gerrymandering by other means.

A common whinge from the 'yes' campaign is the existence of a so-called 'progressive majority' in British politics, which is locked out of power by the rotten, nasty electoral system that we have in the UK. Well, guess what, the problem isn't the system, it's the Left's basic inability to put narrow ideological squabbles to one side in order to work effectively as a Party. They like AV because it would allow them to have their cake and eat it, squabbling to their hearts' content about the number of angels that can dance on a pinhead and then expecting still to win the vote come election day.

Changes to long-held political allegiances can and do happen - Scotland has spectacularly ditched its addiction to Labour over the last few years and now the SNP is going to come very, very close to getting an outright majority at Holyrood - some projections say they might actually achieve it.

That's how we do things in a stable democracy. We turn over the issues, we examine the pros and cons, we don't quickly change our minds but we as a people are not closed to it and we are well able to do it when it is warranted.

We do not need to import unstable, European methods for rigging elections so the minority pressure group of the hour gets to call the tune or else bring down the government.

06-05-2011, 11:46	#92
Chris Trollsplatter Cable Forum Team Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: North of Watford Services: Humane elimination of all common Internet pests Posts: 38,394	Re: To AV, or not to AV? You're reminding me of your opinion chrys, but there's no need, I understand where you're coming from. Your opinion is that safe seats are undemocratic. I disagree. A majority is a majority. A settled majority is a settled majority. If you don't like it, then get out on the stumps and campaign to change the views and voting habits of your neighbours. Anything else is just gerrymandering by other means. A common whinge from the 'yes' campaign is the existence of a so-called 'progressive majority' in British politics, which is locked out of power by the rotten, nasty electoral system that we have in the UK. Well, guess what, the problem isn't the system, it's the Left's basic inability to put narrow ideological squabbles to one side in order to work effectively as a Party. They like AV because it would allow them to have their cake and eat it, squabbling to their hearts' content about the number of angels that can dance on a pinhead and then expecting still to win the vote come election day. Changes to long-held political allegiances can and do happen - Scotland has spectacularly ditched its addiction to Labour over the last few years and now the SNP is going to come very, very close to getting an outright majority at Holyrood - some projections say they might actually achieve it. That's how we do things in a stable democracy. We turn over the issues, we examine the pros and cons, we don't quickly change our minds but we as a people are not closed to it and we are well able to do it when it is warranted. We do not need to import unstable, European methods for rigging elections so the minority pressure group of the hour gets to call the tune or else bring down the government.