AV Referendum 2011

[Austarliana]

Simple. Are you for or against AV in the the referendum to change the voting system to AV in Britain?

[Lordieth]

Where's the alternative poll?

Yes - 3
Leaning Towards - 1
Indifferent - 2
Leaning Against - 5
No - 4

In order of preference.

[Lilistrea]

I am staunchly 'for'. AV would not be my preference, I would rather have AMS or STV, but AV is an improvement in my eyes (requires broader support of the electorate) and I don't believe we'll get another referendum on this in my lifetime if this one does not pass.

[Great Nepal]

Where's the alternative poll?

This...

Yes - 5
Leaning Towards - 4
Indifferent - 3
Leaning Against - 2
No - 1

In order of preference


But seriously, I doubt it is going to pass...

[Aeronos]

I was only mildly for it at first, preferring STV instead, but then an army of strawmen started attacking my house--- err, the No Campaign propaganda started coming through my door, and this made me want to vote Yes very passionately.

[Lilistrea]

I was only mildly for it at first, preferring STV instead, but then an army of strawmen started attacking my house--- err, the No Campaign propaganda started coming through my door, and this made me want to vote Yes very passionately.

I have seen the leaflets, they're utterly ridiculous. I have not, however, had any posted through my door. The "Yes!" posters in my windows, and sign staked on my front lawn, must be discouraging them.

[Angleter]

Although AV is to my mind not that bad, I oppose it for the following reasons: AV, by forcing MPs to seek 50% of the 'vote' (of course, 2nd prefs are given equal weighting to 1st prefs, which I think is bollocks too), will encourage MPs to campaign and act inoffensively (working harder doesn't even come into it), punishing the radical and decisive mavericks this nation could do with and pushing the parties even closer together in the centre. Furthermore, as evidenced by above posters, I think it's patently clear that the Yes campaign sees AV not as the final destination, but as the first step on a route to PR. I absolutely oppose PR in all its forms, and thus want to kybosh this movement at the first hurdle.

Both campaigns, especially the No campaign (although I'm willing to attribute this to its lack of a proper lobby movement á la the Electoral Reform Society, and spin machine), have been atrocious and false.

[Lilistrea]

AV, by forcing MPs to seek 50% of the 'vote' (of course, 2nd prefs are given equal weighting to 1st prefs, which I think is bollocks too), will encourage MPs to campaign and act inoffensively (working harder doesn't even come into it), punishing the radical and decisive mavericks this nation could do with and pushing the parties even closer together in the centre.

I don't think this is the case in, for example, Australia. Their parties certainly push their ideologies, in elections and when in power.

I also think that the public would see right through such populism, if not during the campaign period then when their representative reaches the Commons. Such a candidate would be punished in the next election if the electorate is left with a bad taste in their mouths.

[Fionnuala_Saoirse]

Although AV is to my mind not that bad, I oppose it for the following reasons: AV, by forcing MPs to seek 50% of the 'vote' (of course, 2nd prefs are given equal weighting to 1st prefs, which I think is bollocks too), will encourage MPs to campaign and act inoffensively (working harder doesn't even come into it), punishing the radical and decisive mavericks this nation could do with and pushing the parties even closer together in the centre.

I'm in agreement with this.

An AV system would have made it much more difficult for NI to achieve the relative peace it has today

[Angleter]

AV, by forcing MPs to seek 50% of the 'vote' (of course, 2nd prefs are given equal weighting to 1st prefs, which I think is bollocks too), will encourage MPs to campaign and act inoffensively (working harder doesn't even come into it), punishing the radical and decisive mavericks this nation could do with and pushing the parties even closer together in the centre.

I don't think this is the case in, for example, Australia. Their parties certainly push their ideologies, in elections and when in power.

They're a strict two party system- ie. there's no LibDem 2nd pref vote to scrap over.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

I'm sick and tired of the direct mailings from the No camp. In fact, I think a peaceful Arab Spring style revolution to force the whole government out of Parliament and start afresh with AV would be a better idea: but keep the monarchy, because they're part of our culture.

[Angleter]

In fact, I think a peaceful Arab Spring style revolution to force the whole government out of Parliament and start afresh with AV would be a better idea.

Let me take a wild stab in the dark here and suggest that you're a Labour supporter?

[Morpokia]

Would prefer the STV (seeing my mother country uses that form of votation very sucessfully). I'd prefer the AV over the outdated first pass the post system It might have been ok in the 18th Century but I'd like to think we've moved on since then! Same as the poster above me I was mildly interested in this poll until I got a ton of NO junk mail, now I'm voting YES! Really one would believe the earth would end if we voted in the AV.

[Siorafrica]

For. It can hardly be worse than first past the post.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

In fact, I think a peaceful Arab Spring style revolution to force the whole government out of Parliament and start afresh with AV would be a better idea.

Let me take a wild stab in the dark here and suggest that you're a Labour supporter?

Partially, but I want a fresh start to British politics, even if it means a new political movement.

[Angleter]

Let me take a wild stab in the dark here and suggest that you're a Labour supporter?

Partially, but I want a fresh start to British politics, even if it means a new political movement.

A 'fresh start' would inevitably have Ed Miliband at the helm for years on end. The LibDems have been pilloried enough already for a revolution to consign them completely to the rubbish bins, but the Tories being subject to a revolution (after 1 year in power following Labour's 13) would damage their reputation, probably irreparably, and would see Labour- already in front in the polls- become the embodiment of the revolutionary spirit. The centre-right would have to reorganise, and since it took them 8 years to do so after 1997, I couldn't see them coming back for well over a decade. AV or no AV.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

Partially, but I want a fresh start to British politics, even if it means a new political movement.

A 'fresh start' would inevitably have Ed Miliband at the helm for years on end. The LibDems have been pilloried enough already for a revolution to consign them completely to the rubbish bins, but the Tories being subject to a revolution (after 1 year in power following Labour's 13) would damage their reputation, probably irreparably, and would see Labour- already in front in the polls- become the embodiment of the revolutionary spirit. The centre-right would have to reorganise, and since it took them 8 years to do so after 1997, I couldn't see them coming back for well over a decade. AV or no AV.

I see that this is what is most likely, along with the London Awakening of maybe 2011. If it was me however, then there could be the fourth movement. Higher tuition fees, benefit cuts... would be reversed along with nationalisation of British Rail and a zero tolerance stance on Gaddafi.

[Lilistrea]

Partially, but I want a fresh start to British politics, even if it means a new political movement.

A 'fresh start' would inevitably have Ed Miliband at the helm for years on end. The LibDems have been pilloried enough already for a revolution to consign them completely to the rubbish bins, but the Tories being subject to a revolution (after 1 year in power following Labour's 13) would damage their reputation, probably irreparably, and would see Labour- already in front in the polls- become the embodiment of the revolutionary spirit. The centre-right would have to reorganise, and since it took them 8 years to do so after 1997, I couldn't see them coming back for well over a decade. AV or no AV.

With recent trends in politics I can see the Lib Dems replacing the Conservative Party as the opposition to New Labour. Even if FPTP stayed in place, and despite Nick Clegg serving as David Cameron's human shield against the general public.

I say this as someone who is not aligned with any party, someone who votes pragmatically based on the policies put forward at campaign time. But maybe this period of upheaval is the perfect time to begin a foray in to politics and start a technocrat movement.

[Moral Libertarians]

I say Yes to AV - the no campaign just consists of ceaselessly repeating that it is undemocratic

[Alterrea]

A thread about AV voting and I can select only ONE option?

[Georgism]

A 'fresh start' would inevitably have Ed Miliband at the helm for years on end. The LibDems have been pilloried enough already for a revolution to consign them completely to the rubbish bins, but the Tories being subject to a revolution (after 1 year in power following Labour's 13) would damage their reputation, probably irreparably, and would see Labour- already in front in the polls- become the embodiment of the revolutionary spirit. The centre-right would have to reorganise, and since it took them 8 years to do so after 1997, I couldn't see them coming back for well over a decade. AV or no AV.

I see that this is what is most likely, along with the London Awakening of maybe 2011. If it was me however, then there could be the fourth movement. Higher tuition fees, benefit cuts... would be reversed along with nationalisation of British Rail and a zero tolerance stance on Gaddafi.

I thought you voted conservative last time around?

[Georgism]

I am for the change. I won't be voting.

[Lilistrea]

A thread about AV voting and I can select only ONE option?

Only two candidates means that one must acquire 50% of the vote.

I am for the change. I won't be voting.

I'm not sure I understand.

[Pesda]

How many threads have we had on this already? This must be at least the third.

Anyway, in my opinion, it's better than FPTP, but still a miserable compromise. I'd rather have a proportional system (not necessarily full PR, but still with proportional effects), such as STV,for example. I think if the votes and the seats aren't proportional, then it's not representative democracy.

If we don't have a yes vote, we could be stuck with FPTP for years, and that isn't worth it just to piss off Nick Clegg, and remember, a yes vote will piss off David Cameron.

[Great Nepal]

I say Yes to AV - the no campaign just consists of ceaselessly repeating that it is undemocratic

And what has Yes campaign done? No campaigns atleast gains votes from those who are not convienced by Yes'ers. It is Yes'ers who need to be having massive campaigns to convince people. Since they are not doing that, I am going to conclude that they cant be bothered to ask for vote....
Why vote for someone's cause when they cant even be bothered to ask for vote.