Pyramid Comment

This journal takes an alternative view on current affairs and other subjects. The approach is likely to be contentious and is arguably speculative. The content of any article is also a reminder of the status of those affairs at that date. All comments have been disabled. Any and all unsolicited or unauthorised links are absolutely disavowed.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Electoral Reformation

The idea of leaving a decision regarding an alternative vote (AV) system to the electorate by (an alleged) referendum may appear to be reasonable. In principle it seems very straightforward, though inferring something quite different. This is still only moving the chairs (seats) about at the 'party' game. The timing is cynically such that anything must be better than the system in place. Not necessarily true, even though the psychology may suggest it. A dangerous precept. A coalition between the losing parties may take months to cobble together and even a LibCon (or ConDemned Party?) pact between the two 'winning' parties is highly distasteful. Especially now that the real problems are being exposed. Politicians are absolutely pathetic and they expect the respect of an electorate that is being publicly rail-roaded and shown nothing but contempt. In fact, being ignored.

Proportional Representation

The power ticket is up for grabs and in typical form the grubby hands are already in the trough and grasping for it, but this time it is the 'leaders', so shows what is to come. And it's much worse than anything that has gone before. The Lib Dems are in self-destruct mode. This doesn't matter whether it is the beginning of their end or the end of their beginning as it amounts to the same thing. Even now it's too late and those undecided voters who didn't vote Lib Dems must surely be feeling (only) some sense of relief from the fate that could have happened. It may yet still happen. And some of those that did actually vote Lib Dems could now be having regrets. Perversely, those electors who were denied a vote may get £750 for this constitutional infringement. At least that's something.

The Lib Dems had a real opportunity to show statesmanship and all they can do is behave like (very immature) school children. The school children have the excuses of inexperience and youth for making mistakes. This cannot apply to these politicians, except the immaturity. And these people would desire respect. The world watches and other country leaders interpret this behaviour for themselves. Power is the thing. Power. Power... It's possibly why Cameron is remaining quiet and won't enter the highly public 'squabbling'. Can this be perceived a plus point? Send in the soldiers to do the squabbling while the general just sits it out.

The Tories won 306 seats and the Lib Dems just 57 seats. The Lib Dems are described as a 'winning' party, though with just over 9% of the combined three 'winning' parties (621) or just under 9% of the total seats (649) cannot in reality be imagined to be a 'winner'. An also ran that simply crossed the finishing line, perhaps. The Lib Dems with such a low popularity hold only a psychological ace card (Kingmaker) in determining what sort of government the British electorate will get. Not deserve. The arrogance here is absolute and the contempt for and from politicians is now an absolute. The interests of the people are clearly of no concern and (if) this impasse is ever 'resolved' the contempt for politicians will remain. It's only about the power struggle.

There is a new generation of voters already being introduced to the absurd system in the UQ (aka UK) Ltd and this can only be a very negative experience. Everyone else is being exposed to the real contempt of politicians who simply follow the power train and obviously have absolutely no other interest except power. Absolutely none. Politicians indirectly reveal their identity.

Future voting interest has
already been compromised

The elephant in the room is the British electorate and elephants have very long memories: MP Expenses.

The (still in power) Labour government has cynically managed to retain power even after a general election that rejected (306 v 258) it. Though the Tories won 47.1% (306 of 649) and Labour achieved 39.8% (258 of 649) of the popular vote, the Lib Dems still only managed 8.8% (57 of 649) and have not been welcomed appreciably by a popularity vote. Yet they prance around as though they matter. The entire situation demonstrates how useless is the first-past-the-post (plurality) system and the promises of change with an alternative vote (AV) system. The publicly paraded brown-nosing sycophancy being exhibited is nauseating.