Tactical Voting, AV and First Past the Post

Supporters of FPTP often promote tactical voting as a way minority party supporters can make their vote count.

While tactical voting under FPTP can obviously give a minority party supporter a greater influence over the outcome of a FPTP election, it is at a huge cost to the voters real desire.

With tactical voting under FPTP, the voter must personally transfer their vote without it first being counted for the minority party the voter would prefer. The result of this is that the actual true support for the minority candidate is not reflected in the election result. The positive policy preferences of the tactical voter are left hidden. The major parties, which are inevitably the beneficiaries of tactical voting, carry on their chosen paths without reference to the real but hidden wishes of significant sections of the electorate.

Smaller but important parties are ignored, simply because they appear to have no support. As far as their true wishes are concerned, the  tactical votes of the minority party supporters have gone down the drain.

The tactical voter has to guess where the most effective place for his vote is going to be. Remember while this is essentially their second preference vote it may up being cast for their third or fourth choice. The tactical vote is rarely a vote of support or preference. It will be a vote against the candidate the voter perceives as the less desirable potential winner.

While any form of voting is better than abstention, it is far better for people to vote for who they prefer rather than vote against those they dislike. That is why the 1,2,3 etc of AV is so important.

Finally and arguably the most important advance given by AV is that it is inclusive. It gives everyone a chance to see their vote count. People who would not bother voting because they dislike the concept of tactical voting, because of its usual negativity, will be enfranchised and more likely to vote.

The country is currently on a slippery downward slope. Less and less people vote in general elections and even fewer in council elections. Something must be done to defeat the apathy and re-enfranchise the disillusioned.

Tactical voting has some very large negatives associated with it. It is in no way a substitute for a proper transferable voting system like AV. AV is not perfect but it is far better than FPTP. AV is a way for the political establishment to re-engage with the electorate.

Vote for AV on May 5th.

A Wonderfully Subversive Election Video

This is so damn good I had to put a link to it here.
This video has probably changed the way I will vote. It is just so ruthlessly accurate.
Unless you are happy and content with our present ugly political status-quo, watch this today.

An English Conspiracy

None of the main political parties have any interest in seeing a self reliant democracy flourish in England. They stonewall on the concept of an English Parliament. This is because, quite simply, it is not in their political interests to do otherwise.

This is where Billothewisp wishes to entangle you in a little conspiracy.

During election period the town centres and door-steps of England will be swamped by earnest zealots from the main parties all trying to cosy up to you to get your vote.

Lets say one of these zealots is a nice lady called Brenda.

Brenda knocks on your door and earnestly prods you like a bipedal cow to come round to vote for her Shining Path party.

Whatever you do, ensure she thinks you voted for her party last time. Give her the impression that you are planning on voting for them again.

Then, just as she is about to go away all satisfied and happy, tell her that while you are an avid supporter, you are concerned about the lack of representation for England. This might just cost them your vote.

As she turns back concerned for a wavering voter, mention the rumours you have heard about a new policy on England from another main party. Her face will drop. It will get reported back to the party office. Don't worry about the other party being as anti-English as Brenda's.

It is the rumour-mongering that counts.

Maybe if enough feedback returns to the spin doctors, then Brenda's party and its rivals may begin to grudgingly acknowledge the existence of England to try and garner these wavering votes.

Further more you may like to consider issuing a protest vote. There is little chance that an English Democrats MP would get elected at this point in time, but if you live in a solidly Labour, Conservative or Liberal seat then your vote will at least be a future thorn in the side for the England denialists. It won't make any difference to the election outcome in your seat anyway.

Thats Billothewisps scheme for a little light entertainment during election time. You never know, it might work and even if it doesn't it should prove entertaining.