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A brief word about PR and Hung Parliaments
 
 
On 5 May 2010 at 10:25pm Down and Out wrote:
Given that the Tories on here have been starting umpteen threads telling us we've got to vote for them, I thought I'd just lob the odd one in.

That shiny Mr Cameron keeps wittering on about how a hung parliament would be an economic disaster.
Below, I'm going to name three countries. Two of these countries have 'first past the post' electoral systems and 'strong majority government'. The other has had proportional representation, coalition governments and consensus politics since 1949.

Greece, United Kingdom, Germany

Think on, people.
 
 
On 5 May 2010 at 10:50pm MC wrote:
Germany uses Mixed Member Proportional Representation.

The link below lists countries that use forms of PR. They include some very successful countries and some no-hopers. There is no evidence whatsoever that PR creates weak and unsuccessful governments.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proportional_representation#List_of_countries_using_proportional_representation

PR is what the country makes it. However it is more democratic and representative than the first past the post system. It also tends towards reducing dogma (something the UK could clearly do with).
 
 
On 6 May 2010 at 7:15am me wrote:
Pretty much all politicians have come out against PR. In my book that says we might actually gain seeing as they are a lying theiving bunch of professional swindlers. Bring it on, can't be any worse than any of the parties gaining full control.
 
 
On 6 May 2010 at 8:02am MC wrote:
It is very much in the interests of the two main parties to resist PR. This is why it is almost impossible to achieve it here. Just now we might have our best shot (in our lifetimes anyway) of achieving a fair and representative system, end encourage our politicians to work together rather than always being at each others throats.
You have seen TV footage of the House of Commons? It's pathetically childish and hugely embarrassing for the UK. This confrontational situation is greatly encouraged by the bipolar nature of our first-past-the-post electoral system.

The Tories in particular are very scared by PR. They know what it could mean for their cosy inherited establishment, expensive club, public school politics.
 
 
On 6 May 2010 at 8:25am 'ere be monsters wrote:
Come the revolution


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