Voting tomorrow, is there any point?

[CheltenhamHacker]

And North Korea.

Good point, that's the main issue with North Korea, that people are forced to vote. Not that they're forced to vote for a particular party, or have minimal liberties generally, it's that they're forced to vote.

FYI that isn't a reasonable argument. I have shown an example that refutes your previous point about political freedom. Unless you can prove to me that Australian voters don't have political freedom, your point has been disproven, no matter how much you want to reference dictatorship regimes.

 

[DanFST]

I did.

But sadly, there was no point as I'm in one of those blue(or red) hatted donkey constituencies.

A system where only a few hundred thousand votes are actually significant is a cancer at the heart of the country imho.

I would have : Proportional representation, none of the above as an option, compulsory voting.

Politicians might care a bit more what individual voters, rather than large doners, needed.

Spot on.

 

[MegaSteve]

Been there and done my bit....

Was there any point in me doing so?

Don't suppose I'll ever find out for sure...

The man wearing the blue rosette will be representing me whether I like it or not...

May even of been my last chance to vote in a GE... Hey ho...

 

[Tarkus1212]

I did.

But sadly, there was no point as I'm in one of those blue(or red) hatted donkey constituencies.

A system where only a few hundred thousand votes are actually significant is a cancer at the heart of the country imho.

I would have : Proportional representation, none of the above as an option, compulsory voting.

Politicians might care a bit more what individual voters, rather than large doners, needed.

I'm in the same boat, thankfully the local elections are happening at the same time and that's when my vote does count. We had the chance to get PR, unfortunately we chose not to. I recall the argument against PR being largely around "endless hung parliaments, coalitions and/or minority governments" - imagine that

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

I mean and I do rather generalise here, all parties are just as bad as the other, their leaders are two faced charlatans who 99% of the time just pay lip service to the population to curry favour in order to gain our vote.

So will you vote, or are you going to abstain as you feel the options open to us are just not worth it?

I agree with your view on the politicians, regrettably we are faced in this era with media obsessed megolamaniacs who will prostitute themselves at the drop of a hat in order to win a vote. However if we don't vote we have no right to complain.

 

[Jimaroid]

Unless you can prove to me that Australian voters don't have political freedom

I can't fully, but at that level nothing can be proven because it's mostly a philosophical issue and there's the rub. It's ultimately a matter opinion. I've made it clear where my opinion lies and I think I could argue why I think Australia has a flawed electoral system but not one that doesn't allow political freedom.

If I really had to I would have to take the stance that compulsory voting goes against political freedom because in some ways it contravenes human rights. For example, a person who doesn't believe in democracy shouldn't be forced to vote in a democratic election.

 

[DanFST]

Because political freedom includes the right not to participate.

Theories and Philosophical issues don't sit particularly easy with me, hence the change.

You may well be correct tho.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

So MPs closer to London receive a higher salary in effect.

If it amounted to in effect a salary increase for those closer to London then I wouldn't be worried about that as the cost of living increases as you get closer to London. So less expenses to pay out of salary gives in effect a London and surrounds salary weighting/uplift. BTW - I'm not arguing for this.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Organised chaos !

They moved our polling station but not told the estate

As well as GE vote

There is also council vote

And a vote against a 15% increase in council tax to allow the police station to re open full time

Confusing all the people in the polling station ?!?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I can't fully, but at that level nothing can be proven because it's mostly a philosophical issue and there's the rub. It's ultimately a matter opinion. I've made it clear where my opinion lies and I think I could argue why I think Australia has a flawed electoral system but not one that doesn't allow political freedom.

If I really had to I would have to take the stance that compulsory voting goes against political freedom because in some ways it contravenes human rights. For example, a person who doesn't believe in democracy shouldn't be forced to vote in a democratic election.

You won't have anyone bothered about and standing up for your human rights at all, if you didn't have effective political representation.

 

[jp5]

If it amounted to in effect a salary increase for those closer to London then I wouldn't be worried about that as the cost of living increases as you get closer to London. So less expenses to pay out of salary gives in effect a London and surrounds salary weighting/uplift. BTW - I'm not arguing for this.

You seriously believe that?

 

[bobmac]

If it amounted to in effect a salary increase for those closer to London then I wouldn't be worried about that as the cost of living increases as you get closer to London. So less expenses to pay out of salary gives in effect a London and surrounds salary weighting/uplift. BTW - I'm not arguing for this.

How about the 46 MPs who have claimed expenses for London rent or hotels despite owning a property in London?

 

[CheltenhamHacker]

You seriously believe that?

You seriously don't?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

You seriously don't?

LOL

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

How about the 46 MPs who have claimed expenses for London rent or hotels despite owning a property in London?

Well - getting rid of expenses and paying them more would sort that.

 

[bobmac]

Well - getting rid of expenses and paying them more would sort that.

Good idea, just give them the extra £60/£70K in their salary and save them the trouble of having to invent claims

 

[FairwayDodger]

If it amounted to in effect a salary increase for those closer to London then I wouldn't be worried about that as the cost of living increases as you get closer to London. So less expenses to pay out of salary gives in effect a London and surrounds salary weighting/uplift. BTW - I'm not arguing for this.

So if I moved to stockton on tees, for example, my cost of living would increase?

 

[jp5]

LOL

Of course there are some magical places far away from London that are more expensive to live in than places closer to London. You don't have to be a genius to work that out.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Good idea, just give them the extra £60/£70K in their salary and save them the trouble of having to invent claims

Correct - No expenses claims - No issue.

The extra £60/£70K would be £30/£35K in pocket - so not inconsistent with a year expensed cost of travelling to and staying in London and cost of paying for admin support.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Of course there are some magical places far away from London that are more expensive to live in than places closer to London. You don't have to be a genius to work that out.

Yes there are.